A Short Review on the Valorization of Green Seaweeds and Ulvan: FEEDSTOCK for Chemicals and Biomaterials

Abstract

<jats:p>This short review analyzed the recent trend towards, progresses towards the preparation of chemicals of, and value-added biomaterials from marine macroalgae resources, especially green seaweeds and their derived ulvan polysaccharides for various applications. In recent years, ulvan both in pristine and modified forms has gained a large amount of attention for its effective utilization in various areas due to its unique physiochemical properties, lack of exploration, and higher green seaweed production. The pristine form of ulvan (sulfated polysaccharides) is used as a bio-component; food ingredient; or a raw material for the production of numerous chemicals such as fuels, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, whereas its modified form is used in the sector of composites, membranes, and scaffolds, among others, because of its physicochemical properties. This review highlights the utilization of green seaweed and its derived ulvan polysaccharides for the preparation of numerous chemicals (e.g., solvents, fuel, and gas) and also value-added biomaterials with various morphologies (e.g., gels, fibers, films, scaffolds, nanomaterials, and composites).</jats:p>

Seaweed-Based Compounds and Products for Sustainable Protection against Plant Pathogens

“…Ulvans are sulphated polysaccharides, extracted from the cell wall of green seaweeds, in particular from various species of the genus Ulva, which generally accounts for 9–36% of their dry biomass [ 99 , 100 , 101 ]. Ulvans are extracted from the algal biomass either by acid or enzyme-based extraction procedures, and are mainly composed of sulphated rhamnose, uronic acids (glucuronic acid and iduronic acid) and xylose [ 100 , 102 , 103 ].…”

“…Ulvans are extracted from the algal biomass either by acid or enzyme-based extraction procedures, and are mainly composed of sulphated rhamnose, uronic acids (glucuronic acid and iduronic acid) and xylose [ 100 , 102 , 103 ]. The structural backbone of ulvans consists of monosaccharides (e.g., rhamnose, xylose, glucuronic acid and iduronic acid) joined by α- and β-(1,4)-linkages with characteristic repeating disaccharide units (i.e., ulvano-biuronic acid, ulvano-bioses) [ 100 , 101 ]. Commercially, ulvans have been widely used as ingredients in food, pharmaceuticals, and biomedical applications.…”

“…Commercially, ulvans have been widely used as ingredients in food, pharmaceuticals, and biomedical applications. They possess immune-modulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, anticoagulant, and antihyperlipidemic activities [ 100 , 101 , 104 ]. In recent years, ulvans have been used widely for the modulation of active defense mechanisms in plants against a broad range of pathogens [ 49 , 96 , 105 ].…”

Ulvan, a Polysaccharide from Macroalga Ulva sp.: A Review of Chemistry, Biological Activities and Potential for Food and Biomedical Applications

“…Lahaye et al reported that the ulvan yield ranges from 8% to 29% of the dry weight of algae based on the extraction and purification methods [3]. It is built on two main repeating disaccharides, type A ulvanobiuronic acid 3-sulfate (A 3S ) and type B ulvanobiuronic acid 3-sulfate (B 3S ) [2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Ulvan is widely used as a food additive and several studies have examined its therapeutic benefits [7][8][9].…”

“…It is built on two main repeating disaccharides, type A ulvanobiuronic acid 3-sulfate (A 3S ) and type B ulvanobiuronic acid 3-sulfate (B 3S ) [2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Ulvan is widely used as a food additive and several studies have examined its therapeutic benefits [7][8][9]. New developments will aim to utilize ulvan from various Ulva species as an active ingredient or as an additive to deliver active ingredients in therapeutic preparations [10].…”