Seaweeds as nutraceuticals for health and nutrition

Abstract

Throughout human history, seaweeds have been used as food, folk remedies, dyes, and mineral-rich fertilisers. Seaweeds as nutraceuticals or functional foods with dietary benefits beyond their fundamental macronutrient content, are now a major research and industrial development concept. The occurrence of dietary and lifestyle-related diseases, notably type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancer, and metabolic syndrome has become a health epidemic in developed countries. Global epidemiological studies have shown that countries where seaweed is consumed on a regular basis have significantly fewer instances of obesity and dietary-related disease. This review outlines recent developments in seaweed applications for human health from an epidemiological perspective and as a functional food ingredient.

A Comprehensive Review of the Nutraceutical and Therapeutic Applications of Red Seaweeds (Rhodophyta)

“…Minerals are fundamental for the good performance of the human body, and Palmaria palmata (Rhodophyta) could be a good iron resource because it contains 800 mg/kg dw. In the European Union, the recommended iron uptake dosage is 14 mg/day [14,15].…”

“…Lipids have widespread applications, such as food and dietary supplements and pharmaceutical [6,21]. However, total lipid content is present, on average, in seaweeds in concentrations between 0.60% and 4.15% [15].…”

Antidiabetic Potential of Marine Brown Algae—a Mini Review

“…Undaria pinnatifida is an edible brown alga belonging to the family Alariaceae. According to a clinical trial conducted by Shannon and Abu-ghannam [63] found that the daily supplementation of Undaria pinnatifida balanced the blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition, Sharifuddin et al [64] found that the consumption of rice-based breakfast supplemented by Undaria pinnatifida reduced the postprandial blood glucose concentration in healthy volunteers.…”

Characterization, Bioactive Properties and Antifungal Activity of Chlorella protothecoides Microalgae Oil

“…Bu analiz ile C. protothecoides biyoaktif değere sahip olan ve faydalı çoklu doymamış yağ asitleri bakımından zengin olduğu görülmüştür. Alg kaynaklı yağ asitleri adenozin trifosfat enerji transferini engeller ve bakteriyel enoil-açil taşıyıcı protein redüktaz gibi enzimleri inhibe eder ve daha sonra hücre lizizi ve peroksidasyonu ve oto-oksidasyon bozunma ürünleri meydana gelir [12]. Çalişkan Eleren ve Öneri [22], sürdürülebilir ve çevre dostu biyoyakıt hammaddesi üretimi için yaptıkları çalışmada C. protothecoides'in lipit içeriğini %50.50 olarak belirlemiştirler.…”

“…Mikroalglerin yüksek antioksidan etkisi, α-tokoferol, βkaroten, glutatyon, askorbik asit, flavonoidler, hidrokinonlar, fikosiyaninler, prolin, fenolik bileşikler ve poliaminler gibi antioksidan bileşiklerinden kaynaklanmaktadır [11]. C. protothecoides'in içerdiği; lutein, astaksantin ve zeaksantin gibi biyoaktif bileşikler antioksidan aktiviteye sahiptir, aynı zamanda bakterilere ve fungal mikroorganizmalara karşı da etkilidirler [12]. Son yıllarda mikroalglerle ilgili pek çok çalışma olmasına ragmen gıda koruyucusu olarak antimikrobiyal etkilerinin araştırıldığı çalışmalar sınırlı kalmıştır.…”