SEAWEED EXTRACTIONS

Seaweed Extractions Uses in pharmaceutical and environmental



Seaweed Extractions Uses in pharmaceutical and environmental

Introduction

Seaweeds mention to any large marine benthic algae that are multicellular, macrothallic, and thus differentiated from most algae that are of microscopic size. These plants pattern an important renewable resource in the marine natural environment and have been a part of human civilization from time immemorial. Marine organisms are a wealthy source of structurally innovative and biologically active metabolites. So far, many chemically exclusive compounds of marine source w ith distinct biological activity have been isolated and a number of them are under investigation and/or are being evolved as new pharmaceuticals (Faulkner, 2000a, b; Schwartsmann et al., 2001). Seaweeds are the extraordinary sustainable resources in the marine ecosystem which have been used as a source of nourishment, feed and medicine. It was estimated that about 90% of the species of marine plant are algae and about 50% of the global photosynthesis is assisted from algae. The vast varieties of seaweeds were discovered to possess useful untapped biochemical compounds, which might be a potential source of pharmaceutical leads in the future. Until now more than 2400 marine natural products have been isolated from seaweeds of subtropical and tropical populations. These natural products are renowned as secondary metabolites, which posses a broad range of ecological interactions in marine life.  

Discussion

Seaweeds are considered a valuable source of bioactive compounds as they are able to make a great variety of secondary metabolites characterised by a broad spectrum of biological activities. They are also wealthy in polysaccharides such as alginates, fucans, and laminarans which have been described to possess potential medicinal values and are also considered as dietary fibres. The human consumption of algal fibre promotes the development and defence of the beneficial intestinal flora. Seaweeds are split up into three categories counting upon their nutritional and chemical composition as dark, red and green algae. Brown seaweeds are renowned to contain more bioactive components than either green or red seaweeds. Marine algae in human consumption have been documented since 600 bc. In China, Japan, France, and Chile, seaweeds are harvested to be encompassed in a great variety of dishes, encompassing sushi wrappings, salads, soups, and condiments. The major seaweeds that are of dietary importance in Asian countries pertains to the genus Undaria, Porphyra and Laminaria. Recently, other countries, such as the USA, South America, Ireland, Iceland, and France have significantly increased the consumption, output and marketing of seaweeds. The Atlantic coast of Ireland is one of the most creative seaweed increasing areas in the world. Its weather, over 5000 km of rocky environment, plenty of nutrient-rich waters and large affected by tides flow makes it an perfect habitat for seaweed growth. More than 600 distinct species of seaweed have been recognised in Irish waters. However, there are no specific regulations ruling the assemblage of this merchandise from coastal regions and it may be assembled from inshore marine waters as well as from agricultural run-off which may perhaps be a source of ...