Progress of Bromophenols in Marine Algae from 2011 to 2020: Structure, Bioactivities, and Applications

Abstract

Marine algae contain various bromophenols that have been shown to possess a variety of biological activities, including antiradical, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory effects, and so on. Here, we briefly review the recent progress of these marine algae biomaterials and their derivatives from 2011 to 2020, with respect to structure, bioactivities, and their potential application as pharmaceuticals.

Environmental Impact on Seaweed Phenolic Production and Activity: An Important Step for Compound Exploitation

“…For example, phlorotannins need an active production of phloroglucinol to synthesize phloroglucinol oligomers derivatives [ 15 , 49 ]. Pathways for bromophenol synthesis are still unclear; however, for their biosynthesis pathways, the presence of bromoperoxidases, bromase, laccase, hydrogen peroxide, and bromide, at least, is needed [ 15 , 63 , 70 , 91 , 92 ]. Furthermore, this can be correlated with the concentration of photosynthetic pigments in seaweeds [ 92 , 93 ].…”

“…Pathways for bromophenol synthesis are still unclear; however, for their biosynthesis pathways, the presence of bromoperoxidases, bromase, laccase, hydrogen peroxide, and bromide, at least, is needed [ 15 , 63 , 70 , 91 , 92 ]. Furthermore, this can be correlated with the concentration of photosynthetic pigments in seaweeds [ 92 , 93 ]. Regarding flavonoids, there are a few contradictory reports in the literature, in which the intrinsic factors for flavonoids production are not explained, and the same is true for phenolic terpenoids and phenolic derivates, MAAs, in the red seaweeds [ 15 ].…”

“…The phenolic compounds are produced in higher quantity if there is also a trigger modification, in which the seaweed needs to guarantee their survival, and this is also a seaweed reaction to external factors that represent life-threatening conditions/situations where the phenolic compounds have a direct interaction [ 15 , 70 , 92 ].…”

“…The production of bromophenolic compounds is increased when the seaweeds (such as Ulva lactuca ) are attacked or they sense a possible herbivore or nearby space occupation by other species, thus it is a chemical agent for defensive and deterrent action [ 15 , 61 , 70 , 92 ].…”

Chemical Composition and Potential Practical Application of 15 Red Algal Species from the White Sea Coast (the Arctic Ocean)

“…Several of these or systematically close species were reported to have multiple biological activities. Representatives of the order Ceramiales (including Rhodomela confervoides and different species of Ceramium , Polysiphonia , and Odonthalia ) synthesize a plethora of halogenated compounds that exhibit antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and cytotoxic effects [ 6 , 27 , 28 , 29 ]. Several Ptilota species were reported to contain different specific lectins [ 30 ].…”