Search

Human melanoma is linked with aging-related disorders, prompting interest in the development of functional foods derived from natural ingredients to mitigate its incidence. Molecules in green seaweeds such as Caulerpa racemosa can serve this purpose due to their anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties. A previous work study compounds profiling has been carried out, and in this research the molecular docking studies targeting receptors associated with melanoma (GRP78, IRE1, BRAF) and aging (mTOR, AMPK, SIRT1) identified four promising compound in an extract of C. racemosa. The current study aims to the mechanism of those compounds at a cellular level using the human A375 (BRAF-V600E mutation) and A375 and B16-F10 cell lines. The MTT assay was used to evaluate the potential of GSCRE compounds against A375 and B16-F10 cell lines, with comparisons made to normal HDFa cell lines. Results indicated that compound C2, also known as Caulersin, demonstrated a significantly different ∆G affinity binding score compared to the control drug Dabrafenib. GSCRE crude extract, particularly C2, showed potential in modulating mTOR, AMPK, and SIRT1 pathways and downregulating GRP78, IRE1, and BRAF signaling (p < 0.05). Interestingly, C2 was less effective in suppressing A375 and B16-F10 cell lines (LD 50 C2 < LD 50 Dabrafenib/control), with its LD 50 value nearly matching that of the Trametinib control in B16-F10 cell lines. Consequently, GSCRE, especially C2 or Caulersin, shows promise as a new molecule for developing functional foods to combat aging and human melanoma. However, further in vivo studies and clinical trials are necessary to confirm these findings., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests. Informed consent Not applicable., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Worldwide, where the demand for novel and greener solutions for sustainable agricultural production is increasing, the use of eco-friendly products such as seaweed-derived biostimulants as pre-sowing treatment represent a promising and important approach for the future. Cystoseira barbata, a brown seaweed species abundant in the Mediterranean Region, was collected from the Marmara Sea and subjected to water, alkali, and acidic extractions, and the biostimulant activity of these extracts was tested on wheat (Triticum durum cv. Saricanak-98) using different rates through application to the seeds or germination medium (substrate) applications. The different extracts were characterized by mineral, total phenolic, free amino acid, mannitol, polysaccharide, antioxidant concentrations and hormone-like activity. The effects of the extracts on growth parameters, root morphology, esterase activity, and mineral nutrient concentrations of wheat seedlings were investigated. Our results suggest that the substrate application was more effective in enhancing the seedling performance compared to the seed treatment. High rates of seaweed extracts applied to substrates increased the shoot length and fresh weight of wheat seedlings by up to 20 and 25%, respectively. The substrate applications enhanced the root fresh weights of wheat seedlings by up to 25% when compared to control plants. Among the biostimulant extract applications, the water extract at the highest rate yielded the most promising results in terms of the measured parameters. Cystoseira barbata extracts with different compositions can be used as effective biostimulants to boost seedling growth. The local seaweed biomass affected by mucilage problems, has great potential as a bioeconomy resource and can contribute to sustainable practices for agriculture., (© 2024 The Author(s). Physiologia Plantarum published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society.)

Neuroinflammation, toxic protein aggregation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction are key pathways in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD). Targeting these mechanisms with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, and inhibitors of Aβ formation and aggregation is crucial for treatment. Marine algae are rich sources of bioactive compounds, including carbohydrates, phenolics, fatty acids, phycobiliproteins, carotenoids, fatty acids, and vitamins. In recent years, they have attracted interest from the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries due to their exceptional biological activities, which include anti-inflammation, antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-apoptosis properties. Multiple lines of evidence have unveiled the potential neuroprotective effects of these multifunctional algal compounds for application in treating and managing AD. This article will provide insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of bioactive compounds derived from algae based on in vitro and in vivo models of neuroinflammation and AD. We will also discuss their potential as disease-modifying and symptomatic treatment strategies for AD., (Copyright ©2024, Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine.)

In this study, effective biomaterials were prepared from marine macroalgae, namely Fucus spiralis (F.S), Ulva intestinalis (U.I), and Corallina officinalis (C.O). The ability to adsorb the hazardous organic dye crystal violet (CV) was examined, revealing different adsorptive properties for the three algae. The removal of CV dye occurred onto only a homogeneous monolayer for F.S, and both a homogeneous monolayer and a heterogeneous multilayer for U.I and C.O algae. The predicted monolayer capacities at 25 °C were approximately 53 mg/g, 55 mg/g, and 97 mg/g for F.S, C.O, and U.I, respectively. The adsorption of CV dye on all the algae was found to follow a pseudo-second-order rate. Ulva intestinalis algae, as a potential adsorbent of CV dye, were also tested in the adsorption of inorganic substances and demonstrated significant efficiency in the removal of chromium (VI). The findings highlight various adsorption properties and the relevance of macroalgae for wastewater treatment applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Cancer is a collection of diseases in which aberrant cells grow uncontrolled and invade surrounding tissues. Cancer can be classified as carcinoma, sarcoma, leukemia, or lymphoma. The deadliest cancers are lung, breast, colorectal, pancreatic, and prostate. Chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy are the usual cancer treatments. However, drug resistance poses a significant barrier to cancer treatment. Macroalgae are wellknown producers of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. Red algae, in particular, are a prominent source of bioactive substances, such as polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, lipids, sterols, alkaloids, and terpenoids. Therefore, molecules from marine resources could be an appealing way to identify new cancer treatment alternatives. This study aimed to provide a brief overview of what is currently known regarding the potential of red macroalgae in cancer treatment by discussing the primary therapeutic targets of the disease and identifying compounds or extracts with bioactive characteristics against them., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Marine natural products are a discerning arena to search for the future generation of medications to treat a spectrum of ailments. Meanwhile, cancer is becoming more ubiquitous over the world, and the likelihood of dying from it is rising. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are the mainstays of cancer treatment worldwide, but their extensive side effects limit their curative effect. The quest for low-toxicity marine drugs to prevent and treat cancer is one of the current research priorities of researchers. Fucoidan, an algal sulfated polysaccharide, is a potent therapeutic lead candidate against cancer, signifying that far more research is needed. Fucoidan is a versatile, nontoxic marine-origin heteropolysaccharide that has received much attention due to its beneficial biological properties and safety. Fucoidan has been demonstrated to exhibit a variety of conventional bioactivities, such as antiviral, antioxidant, and immune-modulatory characteristics, and anticancer activity against a wide range of malignancies has also recently been discovered. Fucoidan inhibits tumorigenesis by prompting cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, blocking metastasis and angiogenesis, and modulating physiological signaling molecules. This review compiles the molecular and cellular aspects, immunomodulatory and anticancer actions of fucoidan as a natural marine anticancer agent. Specific fucoidan and membranaceous polysaccharides from Ecklonia cava , Laminaria japonica , Fucus vesiculosus , Astragalus , Ascophyllum nodosum , Codium fragile serving as potential anticancer marine drugs are discussed in this review.

The expansion of the seaweed aquaculture sector along with the rapid deterioration of these products escalates the importance of implementing rapid, real-time techniques for their quality assessment. Seaweed samples originating from Scotland and Ireland were stored under various temperature conditions for specific time intervals. Microbiological analysis was performed throughout storage to assess the total viable counts (TVC), while in parallel FT-IR spectroscopy, multispectral imaging (MSI) and electronic nose (e-nose) analyses were conducted. Machine learning models (partial least square regression (PLS-R)) were developed to assess any correlations between sensor and microbiological data. Microbial counts ranged from 1.8 to 9.5 log CFU/g, while the microbial growth rate was affected by origin, harvest year and storage temperature. The models developed using FT-IR data indicated a good prediction performance on the external test dataset. The model developed by combining data from both origins resulted in satisfactory prediction performance, exhibiting enhanced robustness from being origin unaware towards microbiological population prediction. The results of the model developed with the MSI data indicated a relatively good prediction performance on the external test dataset in spite of the high RMSE values, whereas while using e-nose data from both MI and SAMS, a poor prediction performance of the model was reported.

Sulfated polysaccharides (SPS) from seaweeds have great biochemical and biotechnological potential. This study aimed to investigate the effect of SPS isolated from the seaweed Caulerpa sertularioides on adipogenic differentiation as a possible alternative treatment for obesity. The SPS-rich extract from the seaweed C. sertularioides was fractioned into three SPS-rich fractions (F0.5; F0.9; and F1.8) chemically characterized. Among these four samples, only F0.9 showed a significant inhibitory effect on adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Ten SPS-rich fractions were isolated from F0.9 through ion-exchange chromatography. However, only the fraction (CS0.2) containing a sulfated glucan was able to inhibit adipogenesis. CS0.2 reduces lipid accumulation and inhibits the expression of key adipogenic (PPARγ, C/EBPβ, and C/EBPα) and lipogenic markers (SREBP-1c, Fabp4, and CD36). The data points to the potential of sulfated glucan from C. sertularioides for the development of functional approaches in obesity management.

Studies on the effect of sulfated polysaccharides from seaweed on bone regeneration have increased in recent years. However, there is no consensus on how to use them and their real effectiveness in that process. Thereby, we carried out a systematic review to answer the question "Do the sulfated polysaccharides from seaweeds promote osteogenesis?". Searches were performed in Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Knowledge databases. A total of 599 articles were selected, resulting in 14 eligible studies. Results showed that the sulfated polysaccharides from seaweeds increase the osteogenic markers evaluated. Nevertheless, due to the lack of standardization on protocols used, the results should be cautiously interpreted. In addition, studies using animal models are still scarce, and the results with cellular models cannot always be extrapolated to systems that are more complex. Despite the study limitations, the use of sulfated polysaccharides appears to promote in vitro osteogenesis and enhance bone regeneration., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Inflammatory reactions are part of a complex biological response that plays a vital role in the appearance of various stimuli resulting from tissue and cell damage, the invasion of pathogenic bacteria, and the formation of the subsequent adaptive immune response. The production of many triggers and mediators of inflammation, which are inducers of pro-inflammatory factors, is controlled by numerous differentiation programs, through which inflammation is resolved and tissue homeostasis is restored. However, prolonged inflammatory responses or dysregulation of pro-inflammatory mechanisms can lead to chronic inflammation. Modern advances in biotechnology have made it possible to characterize the anti-inflammatory activity of phlorotannins, polyphenolic compounds from brown seaweed, and the mechanisms by which they modulate the inflammatory response. The purpose of this review is to analyze and summarize the results of numerous experimental in vitro and in vivo studies, illustrating the regulatory mechanisms of these compounds, which have a wide range of biological effects on the body. The results of these studies and the need for further research are discussed.

Malaysia has a long coastline surrounded by various islands, including North Borneo, that provide a suitable environment for the growth of diverse species of seaweeds. Some of the important North Bornean seaweed species are Kappaphycus alvarezii , Eucheuma denticulatum , Halymenia durvillaei (Rhodophyta), Caulerpa lentillifera , Caulerpa racemosa (Chlorophyta), Dictyota dichotoma and Sargassum polycystum (Ochrophyta). This review aims to highlight the therapeutic potential of North Bornean seaweeds and their nutraceutical profiling. North Bornean seaweeds have demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, cardiovascular protective, neuroprotective, renal protective and hepatic protective potentials. The protective roles of the seaweeds might be due to the presence of a wide variety of nutraceuticals, including phthalic anhydride, 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene, 2-pentylthiophene, furoic acid ( K. alvarezii ), eicosapentaenoic acid, palmitoleic acid, fucoxanthin, β-carotene ( E. denticulatum ), eucalyptol, oleic acid, dodecanal, pentadecane ( H. durvillaei ), canthaxanthin, oleic acid, pentadecanoic acid, eicosane ( C. lentillifera ), pseudoephedrine, palmitic acid, monocaprin ( C. racemosa ), dictyohydroperoxide, squalene, fucosterol, saringosterol ( D. dichotoma ), and lutein, neophytadiene, cholest-4-en-3-one and cis -vaccenic acid ( S. polycystum ). Extensive studies on the seaweed isolates are highly recommended to understand their bioactivity and mechanisms of action, while highlighting their commercialization potential.

Over the decades, the world has witnessed diverse virus associated pandemics. The significant inhibitory effects of marine sulfated polysaccharides against SARS-CoV-2 shows its therapeutic potential in future biomedical applications and drug development. Algal polysaccharides exhibited significant role in antimicrobial, antitumor, antioxidative, antiviral, anticoagulant, antihepatotoxic and immunomodulating activities. Owing to their health benefits, the sulfated polysaccharides from marine algae are a great deal of interest globally. Algal polysaccharides such as agar, alginate, carrageenans, porphyran, fucoidan, laminaran and ulvans are investigated for their nutraceutical potential at different stages of infection processes, structural diversity, complexity and mechanism of action. In this review, we focus on the recent antiviral studies of the marine algae-based polysaccharides and their potential towards antiviral medicines.

Marine algae are rich in bioactive nutraceuticals (e.g., carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, fatty acids, antioxidants, and pigments). Biotic (e.g., plants, microorganisms) and abiotic factors (e.g., temperature, pH, salinity, light intensity) contribute to the production of primary and secondary metabolites by algae. Easy, profitable, and sustainable recovery methods include novel solid-liquid and liquid-liquid extraction techniques (e.g., supercritical, high pressure, microwave, ultrasound, enzymatic). The spectacular findings of algal-mediated synthesis of nanotheranostics has attracted further interest because of the availability of microalgae-based natural bioactive therapeutic compounds and the cost-effective commercialization of stable microalgal drugs. Algal extracts can serve as stabilizing/capping and reducing agents for the synthesis of thermodynamically stable nanoparticles (NPs). Different types of nanotherapeutics have been synthesized using physical, chemical, and biological methods. Marine algae are a fascinating source of lead theranostics compounds, and the development of nanotheranostics has been linked to enhanced drug efficacy and safety. Indeed, algae are remarkable nanobiofactories, and their pragmatic properties reside in their (i) ease of handling; (ii) capacity to absorb/accumulate inorganic metallic ions; (iii) cost-effectiveness; and (iv) capacity of eco-friendly, rapid, and healthier synthesis of NPs. Preclinical and clinical trials shall enable to really define effective algal-based nanotherapies. This review aims to provide an overview of the main algal compounds that are nutraceuticals and that can be extracted and purified for nanotheranostic purposes.

In this study, we report a green synthesis of pharmaceutically active gold nanoparticles from marine red alga Acanthophora spicifera by the reduction of chloroauric acid. The formation of A. spicifera-mediated gold nanoparticles (As-AuNPs) was characterized by several analytical techniques. The crystalline and face-centered cubic (fcc) structure were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Electron microscopy results confirmed that As-AuNPs were spherical and the average size of particles was < 20 nm. As-AuNPs hold a significant level of antioxidant activities than A. spicifera extract. As-AuNPs exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against Vibrio harveyi than Staphylococcus aureus at 100 µg/ml. Furthermore, As-AuNPs exhibited the utmost cytotoxicity against human colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29) cells and registered the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) at 21.86 µg/ml. These findings authenticated that the synthesized As-AuNPs possess a broad spectrum of biological activities, and it can be effectively applied in the field of aquaculture and biomedical application.

Marine algae are abundant and inexhaustive sources of the bioactive compounds with the various benefits for human health. Among these substances an attention is given to the sulfated polysaccharides presented as the complexes of polymer macromolecules with excellent biological features including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory anticoagulant, antiviral, and immunomodulatory activities. In addition to the aforementioned properties there is a growing number of research results suggesting the bioactive sulfated polysaccharides such as carrageenan, fucoidan, laminarin, and others exert anticancer and antimetastatic properties. The present review contains the main results of experimental studies of the carrageenan anticancer activity including systemic and intracellular mechanisms of the antiproliferative influence. Relationships between structure, physico-chemical properties of carrageenan and their antitumor effects are described. There are data on the toxicology and pharmacokinetics of carrageenans as well as other aspects of their pharmacotherapeutic and pharmacoprophylactic influence that allow considering them as the potential anticancer agents., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A distortion of coastal communities has been reported along the European Atlantic in recent years. In NW Spain, the lack of studies focusing on long-term changes was resolved when several common perennial seaweeds were shown to have diminished in occurrence between 1998/99 and 2014. To ascertain whether their decline reflected a genuine long-term trend, the same network of monitoring locations and the same set of perennial seaweeds was re-surveyed in 2018. Contrary to our expectations, the average number of species per site increased in semi-exposed and semi-sheltered locations to become statistically indistinguishable from 1998/99 estimates. Nevertheless, site occupancy rates continued to be below 1998/99 estimates for several seaweeds, and warming, both from rising average temperatures and from more frequent and intense marine heatwaves in autumn, seems a plausible explanation for their decline. The benefits of routinely monitoring a network of fixed stations, especially when they are subject to different levels of wave exposure, are discussed., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Seaweed sulfated polysaccharides have attracted significant attention due to their antibacterial activity. This work investigated the antibacterial activity and mechanism of depolymerized sulfated galactans from Eucheuma serra ( E. serra ) and Gracilaria verrucosa ( G. verrucosa ) against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) K88. The results show that removing the metal ions improves the anti-ETEC K88 activity of the galactans. The fluorescence labeling study confirmed that the sulfated galactans penetrated the cell walls and eventually reached the interior of the ETEC K88. Nucleic acid staining and intracellular protein leakage were also observed, indicating the destruction of permeability and integrity of the cell membrane. Interestingly, the two polysaccharides exhibited no effect on the proliferation of the selected Gram-positive bacteria and yeast. This indicates that the cell wall structure of the microorganisms could influence the bacteriostatic activity of the sulfated polysaccharides, as well. These results suggest that the sulfated seaweed polysaccharides might have potential application value in antibacterial diarrhea.

Cosmetics are widely used by people around the world to protect the skin from external stimuli. Consumer preference towards natural cosmetic products has increased as the synthetic cosmetic products caused adverse side effects and resulted in low absorption rate due to the chemicals' larger molecular size. The cosmetic industry uses the term "cosmeceutical", referring to a cosmetic product that is claimed to have medicinal or drug-like benefits. Marine algae have gained tremendous attention in cosmeceuticals. They are one of the richest marine resources considered safe and possessed negligible cytotoxicity effects on humans. Marine algae are rich in bioactive substances that have shown to exhibit strong benefits to the skin, particularly in overcoming rashes, pigmentation, aging, and cancer. The current review provides a detailed survey of the literature on cosmeceutical potentials and applications of algae as skin whitening, anti-aging, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and antimicrobial agents. The biological functions of algae and the underlying mechanisms of all these activities are included in this review. In addition, the challenges of using algae in cosmeceutical applications, such as the effectiveness of different extraction methods and processing, quality assurance, and regulations concerning extracts of algae in this sector were also discussed.

Marine algae contain unique polysaccharides which differ from terrestrial plant polysaccharides, having a different composition, substitution, and linkage types. These are non-digestible by digestive enzymes in humans. Remarkably, marine algae polysaccharides (MAPs) may selectively enhance the activities of some populations of beneficial bacteria and stimulate the production of functional metabolites by gut microbiota. The MAPs also stimulate a range of biological activities, such as anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, immune-modulatory, and anti-diabetic. There is great potential to explore prebiotic MAP compounds. However, the exact digestion and fermentation behaviors in the human gastrointestinal tract, as well as their beneficial physiological effects, are to a large extent unexplored. An in-depth investigation of MAPs will provide us novel insights into the specific fermentation behavior for the observed human gut benefits. This paper is envisioned to offer a new perspective on the sustainability-promoting applications of MAPs as prebiotics in the functional food and pharmaceutical industries., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Extreme events have profound ecological impacts on species and ecosystems, including range contractions and collapse of entire ecosystems. Although theory predicts that extreme events cause loss of genetic diversity, empirical demonstrations are rare, obscuring implications for future adaptive capacity of species and populations. Here, we use rare genetic data from before an extreme event to empirically demonstrate massive and cryptic loss of genetic diversity across ∼800 km of underwater forests following the most severe marine heatwave on record. Two forest-forming seaweeds (Sargassum fallax and Scytothalia dorycarpa) lost ∼30%-65% of average genetic diversity within the 800-km footprint of the heatwave and up to 100% of diversity at some sites. Populations became dominated by single haplotypes that were often not dominant or present prior to the heatwave. Strikingly, these impacts were cryptic and not reflected in measures of forest cover used to determine ecological impact of the heatwave. Our results show that marine heatwaves can drive strong loss of genetic diversity, which may compromise adaptability to future climatic change., Competing Interests: Declaration of Interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

There is epidemiological evidence that dietary intake of seaweeds is associated with a lower prevalence of chronic diseases. While seaweeds are of high nutritious value, due to their high content of fiber, polyunsaturated fatty acids and minerals, they also contain an abundance of bioactive compounds. There is a growing body of scientific data that these bioactive moieties exert effects that could correct the metabolic dysregulation that is present in obesity and Type 2 diabetes (T2D). In this review we describe how the molecular mechanisms, specific to different tissues, that underly obesity and T2D are influenced by both seaweed extracts and seaweed-derived bioactive molecules. In obesity, modulation of antioxidant capacity and reduction of intracellular ROS levels within tissues, and regulation of signaling pathways involved in enhancing browning of white adipose tissue, have been highlighted as key mechanism and identified as a potential target for optimal energy metabolism. In T2D, management of post-prandial blood glucose by modulating α-glucosidase or α-amylase activities, modulation of the AMPK signaling pathway, and similarly to obesity, reduction of ROS and NO production with subsequent increased expression of antioxidant enzymes have been shown to play a key role in glucose metabolism and insulin signaling. Future studies aimed at discovering new therapeutic drugs from marine natural products should, therefore, focus on bioactive compounds from seaweed that exert antioxidant activity and regulate the expression of key signaling pathways involved in glucose homeostasis, mechanisms that are common to both obesity and T2D management. In addition, more data is required to provide evidence of clinical benefit., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest C.W., G.B. and T.S. have no conflict of interest. F.H. is an employee of Algaia, which is a company that produces natural seaweed extracts and solutions., (© 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Utilization of marine algae has increased considerably over the past decades, since biodiversity within brown, red and green marine algae offers possibilities of finding a variety of bioactive compounds. Marine algae are rich sources of dietary fibre. The remarkable positive effects of seaweed dietary fibre on human body are related to their prebiotic activity over the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiota. However, dietary modulation of microorganisms present in GIT can be influenced by different factors such as type and source of the dietary fibre, their molecular weight, type of extraction and purification methods employed, composition and modification of polysaccharide and oligosaccharide. This review will demonstrate evidence that polysaccharides and oligosaccharides from marine algae can be used as prebiotics, emphasizing their use in human health, their application as food and other possible applications. Furthermore, an important approach of microbial enzymes employment during extraction, modification or production of those prebiotics is highlighted., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Marine organisms produce an array of biologically active natural products, many of which have unique structures that have not been found in terrestrial organisms. Hence, marine algae provide a unique source of bioactive compounds. The present study investigated 19 marine algae and one seagrass collected from Torquay beach, Victoria, Australia. High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) hyphenated with microchemical (DPPH•, p-anisaldehyde, and Fast Blue B) and biochemical (α-amylase and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) enzymatic) derivatizations was used to evaluate antioxidant activity, presence of phytosterols and phenolic lipids, α-amylase and AChE inhibitory activities of extract components. Significant α-amylase and AChE inhibitory activities were observed in samples 2, 6, 8 and 10. Antioxidant activities in the samples were found to be correlated to phytosterol content (R² = 0.78), but was not found to be related to either α-amylase or AChE inhibitory activities. α-Amylase inhibitory activities were correlated to AChE inhibition (R² = 0.77) and attributed to the phytosterol content, based on the similar peak position in the chromatograms with the β-sitosterol chromatogram. Samples 1, 8, and especially sample 20, were found to contain phenolic lipids (alkyl resorcinol derivatives) with significant antioxidant activities. The results suggest that these marine species have a significant number of bioactive compounds that warrant further investigation.

Brown seaweeds contain bioactive compounds that show anti-tumorigenic effects. These characteristics have been repeatedly observed in the Lessoniaceae family. Egregia menziesii , a member of this family, is distributed in the North Pacific and its properties have been barely studied. We evaluated herein the cytotoxic and anti-proliferative activity of extracts of this seaweed, through toxicity assay in Artemia salina and lymphocytes, and MTT proliferation assay, in Bergmann glia cells, 3T3-L1 and brain cancer cell lines. E. menziesii 's extracts inhibited the spread of all the tested cell lines. The hexane extract showed the highest cytotoxic activity, while the methanol extract was moderately cytotoxic. Interestingly, seaweed extracts displayed a selective inhibition pattern. These results suggest that E. menziesii 's extracts might be good candidates for cancer prevention and the development of novel chemotherapies due to its highest cytotoxicity in transformed cells compare to glia primary cultures.

Marine algae are considered to be an abundant sources of bioactive compounds with cosmeceutical potential. Recently, a great deal of interest has focused on the health-promoting effects of marine bioactive compounds. Carbohydrates are the major and abundant constituent of marine algae and have been utilized in cosmetic formulations, as moisturizing and thickening agents for example. In addition, marine carbohydrates have been suggested as promising bioactive biomaterials for their various properties beneficial to skin, including antioxidant, anti-melanogenic and skin anti-aging properties. Therefore, marine algae carbohydrates have potential skin health benefits for value-added cosmeceutical applications. The present review focuses on the various biological capacities and potential skin health benefits of bioactive marine carbohydrates.

Marine algae have received great attention as natural photoprotective agents due to their unique and exclusive bioactive substances which have been acquired as an adaptation to the extreme marine environment combine with a range of physical parameters. These photoprotective substances include mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), sulfated polysaccharides, carotenoids, and polyphenols. Marine algal photoprotective substances exhibit a wide range of biological activities such as ultraviolet (UV) absorbing, antioxidant, matrix-metalloproteinase inhibitors, anti-aging, and immunomodulatory activities. Hence, such unique bioactive substances derived from marine algae have been regarded as having potential for use in skin care, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products. In this context, this contribution aims at revealing bioactive substances found in marine algae, outlines their photoprotective potential, and provides an overview of developments of blue biotechnology to obtain photoprotective substances and their prospective applications.

Seaweeds are sources of biomolecules with biological activities and pharmacological potential - for example, lectins, a group of proteins that can bind reversibly to carbohydrates or compounds containing them. The aim of this study was to elucidate the structural properties of a lectin extracted from the red seaweed Bryothamnion triquetrum (BtL) and to investigate its anti-inflammatory activity in mice. The lectin was purified by precipitation with ammonium sulfate and ion-exchange chromatography. Its secondary structure and tryptophan (Trp) microenvironment were analyzed by circular dichroism spectroscopy and steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated by means of paw edema induced by carrageenan or dextran, myeloperoxidase activity in paw tissue, and by measurement of leukocyte and neutrophil migration and cytokine quantification in a peritonitis model. The secondary structure of BtL is mostly composed of β-strands and unordered conformation, and it is quite resistant to extremes of pH and temperature, preserving the exposure of Trp residues under these conditions. In an assessment of biological activities, groups of mice were subjected to pretreatment with BtL before the inflammatory stimulus. BtL had anti-inflammatory effects in the models tested, and hence may be considered a molecule with potential to be used in the pharmaceutical industry., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Marine algae have attracted a great deal of interest as excellent sources of nutrients. Polysaccharides are the main components in marine algae, hence a great deal of attention has been directed at isolation and characterization of marine algae polysaccharides because of their numerous health benefits. In this review, extraction and purification approaches and chemico-physical properties of marine algae polysaccharides (MAPs) are summarized. The biological activities, which include immunomodulatory, antitumor, antiviral, antioxidant, and hypolipidemic, are also discussed. Additionally, structure-function relationships are analyzed and summarized. MAPs' biological activities are closely correlated with their monosaccharide composition, molecular weights, linkage types, and chain conformation. In order to promote further exploitation and utilization of polysaccharides from marine algae for functional food and pharmaceutical areas, high efficiency, and low-cost polysaccharide extraction and purification methods, quality control, structure-function activity relationships, and specific mechanisms of MAPs activation need to be extensively investigated., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne neglected tropical disease caused by protozoan parasites of the Leishmania genus and transmitted by the female Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia sand flies. The currently prescribed therapies still rely on pentavalent antimonials, pentamidine, paromomycin, liposomal amphotericin B, and miltefosine. However, their low efficacy, long-course treatment regimen, high toxicity, adverse side effects, induction of parasite resistance and high cost require the need for better drugs given that antileishmanial vaccines may not be available in the near future. Although most drugs are still derived from terrestrial sources, the interest in marine organisms as a potential source of promising novel bioactive natural agents has increased in recent years. About 28,000 compounds of marine origin have been isolated with hundreds of new chemical entities. Recent trends in drug research from natural resources indicated the high interest of aquatic eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms, marine algae in the search for new chemical entities given their broad spectrum and high bioactivities including antileishmanial potential. This current review describes prepared extracts and compounds from marine macroalgae along with their antileishmanial activity and provides prospective insights for antileishmanial drug discovery., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this review paper. The funding sponsors had no role in the design.

Seaweeds belong to a group of marine plants known as algae, which are consumed as sea vegetables in several Asian countries. Recent studies have focused on the biological and pharmacological activities of seaweeds and their highly bioactive secondary metabolites because of their potential in the development of new pharmaceutical agents. Although several varieties of bioactive novel compounds such as phlorotannins, diterpenes and polysaccharides from seaweeds have already been well scrutinized, fucosterol as a phytosterol still needs to reinvent itself. Fucosterol (24-ethylidene cholesterol) is a sterol that can be isolated from algae, seaweed and diatoms. Fucosterol exhibits various biological therapeutics, including anticancer, antidiabetic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antihyperlipidemic, antifungal, antihistaminic, anticholinergic, antiadipogenic, antiphotodamaging, anti-osteoporotic, blood cholesterol reducing, blood vessel thrombosis preventive and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. In this review, we address some potential approaches for arbitrating novel fucosterol biologics in the medical field, focusing on the selection of personalized drug candidates and highlighting the challenges and opportunities regarding medical breakthroughs. We also highlight recent advances made in the design of this novel compound, as the significant health benefits from using these optimized applications apply to the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical fields., (© 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Marine algae are prolific source of bioactive secondary metabolites and are found to be active against different cancer cell lines. QSAR studies will explicate the significance of a particular class of descriptor in eliciting anticancer activity against a cancer type. Marine algal compounds showing anticancer activity against six different cancer cell lines namely MCF-7, A431, HeLa, HT-29, P388 and A549 taken from Seaweed metabolite database were subjected to comprehensive QSAR modeling studies. A hybrid-GA (genetic algorithm) optimization technique for descriptor space reduction and multiple linear regression analysis (MLR) approach was used as fitness functions. Cell lines HeLa and MCF-7 showed good statistical quality (R(2)∼0.75, Q(2)∼0.65) followed by A431, HT29 and P388 cell lines with reasonable statistical values (R(2)∼0.70, Q(2)∼0.60). The models developed were interpretable, with good statistical and predictive significance. Molecular descriptor analyses revealed that Baumann's alignment-independent topological descriptors had a major role in variation of activity along with other descriptors. Incidentally, earlier QSAR analysis on a variety of chemically diverse PKBα inhibitors revealed Baumann's alignment-independent topological descriptors that differentiated the molecules binding to Protein kinase B (PKBα) kinase or PH domain, hence a docking study of two crystal structures of PKBβ was performed for identification of novel ATP-competitive inhibitors of PKBβ. Five compounds had a good docking score and Callophycin A showed better ligand efficiency than other PKBβ inhibitors. Furthermore in silico pharmacokinetic and toxicity studies also showed that Callophycin A had a high drug score (0.85) compared to the other inhibitors. These results encourages discovering novel inhibitors for cancer therapeutic targets by screening metabolites from marine algae., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Matrix metalloproteinases are endopeptidases which belong to the group of metalloproteinases that contribute for the extra-cellular matrix degradation, and several tissue remodeling processes. An imbalance in the regulation of these endopeptidases eventually leads to several severe pathological complications like cancers, cardiac, cartilage, and neurological related diseases. Hence inhibitory substances of metalloproteinases (MMPIs) could prove beneficial in the management of above specified pathological conditions. The available synthetic MMPIs that have been reported until now have few shortcomings and thus many of them could not make to the final clinical trials. Hence a growing interest among researchers on screening of MMPIs from different natural resources is evident and especially natural products from marine origin. As there has been an unparalleled contribution of several biologically active compounds from marine resources that have shown profound applications in nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and pharmaceuticals, we have attempted to discuss the various MMPIs from edible sea-weeds., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The marine environment is known as a rich source of chemical structures with numerous beneficial health effects. Among marine organisms, marine algae have been identified as an under-exploited plant resource, although they have long been recognized as valuable sources of structurally diverse bioactive compounds. Presently, several lines of studies have provided insight into biological activities and neuroprotective effects of marine algae including antioxidant, anti-neuroinflammatory, cholinesterase inhibitory activity and the inhibition of neuronal death. Hence, marine algae have great potential to be used for neuroprotection as part of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and functional foods. This contribution presents an overview of marine algal neuroprotective effects and their potential application in neuroprotection.

This capstone project is a completed draft of an illustrated field guide of Southern California seaweeds. The purpose of this was to create a region-specific and user-friendly guide for readers to learn about local seaweeds. This was done by collecting life specimens and illustrating them by hand with watercolor. The illustrations were digitized and put into a draft, along with supporting information about each species. The completed draft will be prepared and submitted for publication in print.

Aquaculture in exposed and/or distant ocean sites is an emerging industry and field of study that addresses the need to improve food security along with the challenges posed by expansion of urban and coastal stakeholders into nearshore and sheltered marine waters. This move necessitates innovative solutions for this industry to thrive in high-energy environments. Some innovative research has increased understanding of the physics, hydrodynamics, and structural requirements enabling the development of appropriate systems. The blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), the New Zealand green shell or green lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus), and the Pacific Oyster (Magallana gigas), are the primary targets for commercial exposed bivalve aquaculture. Researchers and industry members are actively advancing existing structures and developing new structures and methodologies for these and alternative high-value species suitable for such conditions. For macroalgae (seaweed) cultivation, such as sugar kelp (Saccharina latissimi), oar weed (Laminaria digitata), or kelp sp. (Ecklonia sp.), longline systems are commonly used, but further development is needed to withstand fully exposed environments and improve productivity and efficiency. In marine finfish aquaculture, three primary design categories for open ocean net pens are identified: flexible gravity pens, rigid megastructures, closed pens, and submersible pens. As aquaculture ventures into more demanding environments, a concerted focus on operational efficiency is imperative. This publication considers the commercial and research progress relating to the requirements of aquaculture's expansion into exposed seas, with a particular focus on the cultivation of bivalves, macroalgae, and marine finfish cultivation technologies and structural developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agriculture & Nature / Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım & Doğa Dergisi is the property of Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam Universitesi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Understanding how macroalgal forests will respond to environmental change is critical for predicting future impacts on coastal ecosystems. Although measures of adult macroalgae physiological responses to environmental stress are advancing, measures of early life‐stage physiology are rare, in part due to the methodological difficulties associated with their small size. Here we tested a novel, high‐throughput method (rate of oxygen consumption and production; V̇O2$$ \dot{V}{\mathrm{O}}_2 $$) via a sensor dish reader microplate system to rapidly measure physiological rates of the early life stages of three habitat‐forming macroalgae, the kelp Ecklonia radiata and the fucoids Hormosira banksii and Phyllospora comosa. We measured the rate of O2 consumption (respiration) and O2 production (net primary production) to then calculate gross primary production (GPP) under temperatures representing their natural thermal range. The V̇O2$$ \dot{V}{\mathrm{O}}_2 $$ microplate system was suitable for rapidly measuring physiological rates over a temperature gradient to establish thermal performance curves for all species. The V̇O2$$ \dot{V}{\mathrm{O}}_2 $$ microplate system proved efficient for measures of early life stages of macroalgae ranging in size from approximately 50 μm up to 150 mm. This method has the potential for measuring responses of early life stages across a range of environmental factors, species, populations, and developmental stages, vastly increasing the speed, precision, and efficacy of macroalgal physiological measures under future ocean change scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non-food segment of the Chinese seaweed market, which is crucial for developing the hydrocolloid industry, relies heavily on the seaweed supply from Chile, Peru, and, to a much lesser extent, Indonesia, in addition to domestic production. In this paper we investigate the degree of market integration between seaweed from these countries. We find that the market is highly integrated as the Law of One Price holds, suggesting a global market. Furthermore, the import price from Chile and Indonesia follows the lead of the import price from Peru. As the hydrocolloid industry develops in China, increased demand for seaweed from Chile and Peru is expected, which increases the extraction of seaweed from natural beds. This situation will be unsustainable if Chile and Peru continue to rely primarily on wild extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seaweed varieties, Halymenia durviela and Caulerpa racemosa, hold a significant economic value since they can be used as raw materials in food, medicine, and cosmetics. Therefore, proper cultivation methods are essential to enhance the productivity of these seaweeds. This study aimed to assess the growth effects on C. racemosa and H. durviela and identify which variety exhibits the best growth performance. Two different seed variety treatments were tested, each with three replications. The treatments were as follows: Treatment A involved C. racemosa seeds, and Treatment B involved H. durviela seeds. The data analyzed included absolute weight growth and relative growth rates. The results indicated that the off-bottom method influenced the growth of both seaweed varieties, with Halymenia durviela showing the best results in terms of absolute weight growth and relative growth rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumers’ appreciation and preference for products containing seaweed, as a natural alternative to synthetic cosmetics, has been ever growing in recent years. They are subjected to high expectations in terms of contents, such as purified bio active substances. Seaweed’s chemical compounds’ effectiveness in cosmetics is already known and they are successfully applied as effective alternatives with visible benefits. The varying species of algae have numerous beneficial properties for the skin. The bio-activeness of their compounds, such as carbohydrates, proteins, phenolic compounds and pigments have been researched and proven to be safe for use in the cosmetic industry. The following overview will explore the proof of the biological properties and various applications of bio-active molecules, derived from seaweed and their application in the cosmetic industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaponics is a closed recirculating aquaculture method combined with hydroponics. This method is very alternative for raising fish while growing plants in specially designed media. The mechanism obtained is very effective and efficient, plants can utilize fish waste as nutrients for plant growth. Plants can reduce poisonous fish waste in ponds as nutrients for organic substances. This can enhance profitable biointegrated food production systems. Plants will serve as vegetation filters. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of aquaponic treatment in high-salinity water by observing the growth in three species of seaweed Gracilaria sp., Sargassum sp., and Kappaphycus alvarezii. The research design used the LSD method and was carried out for 63 days. Data analysis using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) then continued with Duncan's Multiple Range Test. The research method involved making aquaponic media including preparing containers for seaweed cultivation and fish and shrimp farming, observing seaweed growth rates, and measuring water quality. Aquaponic treatment can increase the growth rate of intensively cultivated seaweed. The results showed the best weight growth rate in the aquaponic treatment of Gracilaria sp. with a value of 12.33 grams than K. alvarezii at 11.33 grams and Sargassum sp. at 10.83 grams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible brown seaweeds, sea spaghetti (SS) and Irish wakame (IW), were incorporated at 2.5% into the formulation of reduced-fat (fat reduced from 25% to 20%, 15%, and 10%) and -salt (sodium chloride—NaCl) (salt reduced from 2% to 1.5%, 1%, and 0.5%) pork sausages. The physicochemical and sensory characteristics of the reformulated sausages were analysed. Subsequently, shelf-life evaluation (lipid oxidation and microbiological analyses) was performed on selected sausages stored under aerobic (AP), MAP70/30 (70% N2:30% CO2), MAP80/20 (80% O2:20% CO2), and vacuum (VP) conditions. Relative to the control, seaweed sausages containing 10% fat had higher (p < 0.05) protein and 1.5% salt seaweed sausages had higher (p < 0.05) ash content. The addition of seaweed did not affect the pH of reduced-fat and -salt sausages, and cook loss increased in reduced-fat sausages. Reduced-fat and -salt seaweed sausages were darker in colour than the experimental controls. Based on sensory results, the most accepted sausages using SS and IW were 10% fat, 0.5% salt (SS10f/0.5s), and 15% fat, 1% salt (IW15f/1s), respectively. With regard to the shelf life of selected seaweed sausages, MAP70/30 (70% N2, 30% CO2) and VP (vacuum packaging) were the most effective approaches for the lipid oxidation and TVC (total viable counts), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Including seaweed in cattle feed has gained increased interest, but it is important to take into account that the concentration of toxic metals, especially arsenic, is high in seaweed. This study investigated the arsenic species in milk from seaweed‐fed cows. RESULTS: Total arsenic in milk of control diets (9.3 ± 1.0 μg As kg−1, n = 4, dry mass) was significantly higher than seaweed‐based diet (high‐seaweed diet: 7.8 ± 0.4 μg As kg−1, P < 0.05, n = 4, dry mass; low‐seaweed diet: 6.2 ± 1.0 μg As kg−1, P < 0.01, n = 4, dry mass). Arsenic speciation showed that the main species present were arsenobetaine (AB) and arsenate (As(V)) (37% and 24% of the total arsenic, respectively). Trace amounts of dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) and arsenocholine (AC) have also been detected in milk. Apart from arsenate being significantly lower (P < 0.001) in milk from seaweed‐fed cows than in milk from the control group, other arsenic species showed no significant differences between groups. CONCLUSION: The lower total arsenic and arsenate in seaweed diet groups indicates a possible competition of uptake between arsenate and phosphate, and the presence of AC indicates that a reduction of AB occurred in the digestive tract. Feeding a seaweed blend (91% Ascophyllum nodosum and 9% Laminaria digitata) does not raise As‐related safety concerns for milk. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study set out to provide a preliminary assessment of nutritional profiles of five selected New Zealand macroalgae to investigate the potential of landcultivated Ulva spp. The New Zealand seaweeds species, selected from a limited range, were either collected from the wild (Pyropia plicata from Tauranga and Kaikōura), or were sourced from commercial wild harvest suppliers (Macrocystis pyrifera and Undaria pinnatifida), and were compared to land-based cultivated Ulva species (Ulva ralfsii and Ulva stenophylloides). Species were assessed for their content of crude protein, total lipids, carbohydrates, fibers, amino acids, mineral profiles, heavy metals and antioxidant capacity (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, ORAC). The two cultivated Ulva spp. had the highest crude protein content of the six seaweeds analyzed (approximately 21% dw, N×6.25), as expected with nutrient supplemented cultivation. They also had the highest total, essential and branched chain amino acid quantities (151, 70, and 29 mg/g for U. stenophylloides and 138, 62, and 27 mg/g for U. ralfsii). Though the two Ulva spp. were grown to the same cultivation specifications, they varied in carbohydrate and total fiber content (U. stenophylloides: 63% and 62%; U. ralfsii: 39% and 40%, respectively). Pyropia plicata collected in Kaikōura had the highest carbohydrate levels (65%) though not the highest total fiber. Both P. plicata had the highest trace minerals (417 mg/kg and 720 mg/kg for Kaikōura and Tauranga P. plicata respectively). All seaweeds analyzed showed no lipophilic antioxidants, though the two Phaeophyceae had the highest hydrophilic antioxidant content at 115 TE and 168 TE for Macrocystis pyrifera and Undaria pinnatifida, respectively. This paper provides a preliminary indication of the relative nutritional attributes of a range of potential New Zealand seaweed aquaculture targets benchmarked against sealettuce (Ulva spp.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brown algae (Phaeophyceae) dominate intertidal and shallow subtidal areas globally, where larger species form extensive underwater forests. These structurally complex and highly productive habitats enhance local biodiversity and support food webs in coastal areas through secondary production, thereby shaping local oceanography and ecology. Macroalgal aquaculture is an important and growing sector, where approximately 40% of all cultivated algae belong to Phaeophyceae. However, both cultured and natural brown algae have been under increasing pressure due to climate-driven factors, such as ocean warming, eutrophication, and herbivore outbreaks. We conducted a comprehensive literature review on abiotic (temperature, light intensity, and UV radiation, nutrients, water motion, salinity, and substrata and sediment) and biotic (bacteria, viruses, fungi, eukaryotic endophytes and endoparasites, epiphytes, and grazers) stressors and illnesses in marine brown macroalgae, as well as brown algae defense mechanisms, and discuss how these parameters may affect the production of a sustainable crop for the aquaculture industry under future climate change scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the aim to assess the effectiveness of seaweed extracts, specifically Kappaphycus alvarezii and Gracilaria, on seed yield in green gram (Vigna radiata L.) cv. VBN 2. The Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding at Annamalai University's Experimental Farm served as the site for the field trial. The results revealed that seeds soaked with Kappaphycus alvarezii (2.5%) exhibited higher value for the growth attributes, physiological traits, pod characters and seed yield attributes of green gram VBN 2. It also recorded days to first flowering in earlier days. The results of the present investigation suggest that in order to enhance growth and yield characteristics under difficult environmental conditions, green gram seeds should be treated with 2.5% Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed extract for 12 hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global food industry faces a critical challenge in ensuring sustainable practices to meet the demands of a growing population while minimizing environmental impact. At the same time, consumer awareness and the demand for quality products drive innovation and inspire positive changes in the food supply chain. Aiming to create a more sustainable and nutrient-rich alternative, this study is summarized by characterizing the physical and chemical characteristics of algae-enriched chickpea hummus: an innovative approach to popular food products. The algae-enriched hummuses were developed with an incorporation (6% w/w) of Gelidium corneum and Fucus vesiculosus seaweeds and Chlorella vulgaris (hetero and autotrophic) microalgae to reveal their technological potential and evaluate the nutritional and rheological characteristics relative to a control hummus (without algae). From a nutritional perspective, the main results indicated that hummus enriched with microalgae showed an increase in protein content and an improved mineral profile. This was particularly notable for the seaweed F. vesiculosus and the autotrophic microalga C. vulgaris, leading to claims of being a "source of" and "rich in" various minerals. Additionally, the antioxidant activity of hummus containing F. vesiculosus and C. vulgaris increased significantly compared to the control. From a rheological perspective, incorporating algae into the humus strengthened its structure. The microalgae further enhanced the dish's elasticity and firmness, thus improving this chickpea-based dish´s overall texture and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loej coast situated near Mangrol of Saurashtra region, Arabian Sea, Gujarat is supported by diverse flora and fauna. The present study aimed to document seaweed diversity and distribution along intertidal region of Loej coast by using belt transect sampling method from October 2021 to March 2022. From the study area, a total of 56 seaweed species belonging to 3 phyla, 3 classes, 16 orders, 25 families and 36 genera were recorded. Out of these 12 species were green seaweed, 14 species were brown and 30 species were red seaweed. Maximum number of species diversity was reported from class Rhodophyceae. Dictyotales (16%, species) was found to be dominant order followed by Gigartinales (14%, species); Ceramiales (11%, species). Among 25 families, Dictyotaceae was the dominant family reported with 14 species. Distribution study observed vertical distribution from the seashore side to the seaside of green, brown and red seaweed. Also, horizontal distribution of green seaweed and red seaweed were seen in the upper intertidal area and in the lower intertidal area, respectively. In species distribution behaviour, out of 56 species of seaweed; 8 species show aggregated behaviour, 10 species show the regular distribution and 38 species show random aggregation behaviour. Ulva lactuca was most abundantly and frequently found species with maximum density during the whole study period. During the present study, diversity indices like species diversity index (H') indicate healthy diverse seaweed fauna. Species richness index/Margalef's diversity index (D) was in the range of 3.37-4.81. Maximum species richness was reported in winter month February and minimum species richness in October. Pielou's evenness index (J) showed that seaweed species were unevenly distributed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food reformulation and the introduction of novel sources of nutrition are considered potential strategies to address poor nutrition and public health issues. Seaweed, a novel food in Western cuisine, is gaining popularity, and seaweed farming in the United States is an emerging and fast‐growing aquaculture segment. This paper provides a comprehensive understanding of US consumers' preferences and attitudes toward seaweed and value‐added seaweed products. Specifically, the study focuses on two distinct consumer groups: those who consume seaweed and those who do not. It includes separate analyses for each group to compare their attitudes and examine the characteristics and factors affecting their attitudes. This paper summarizes the different characteristics of seaweed consumers and nonconsumers. The results show that the seaweed consumers' knowledge of seaweed and perceptions of seaweed quality, price, and availability positively affect their intentions to try a new product flavored with seaweed. Nonconsumers have unique reasons for not consuming seaweed, several of which are associated with their intentions to try a new seaweed product [EconLit Citations: D12, Q13]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Harran Journal of Agricultural & Food Science is the property of Harran University, Faculty of Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)