![]() ![]() ![]() The human health benefits from seaweeds can be through direct and indirect way: through the consumption of the whole seaweed or the uptake by assumption of food supplement or natural drugs (direct health benefits) or by using seaweeds in agriculture as natural fertilizers, in order to have a nutrient soil and healthy cultivation without the presence of chemicals contained in traditional fertilizers. Chlorophyta (green algae) are rich in ulvan, a sulphate polysaccharide commonly used in biomedicine, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries but also as emulsifiers, stabilizers, and thickeners in food products. ![]() Carrageenans can be exploited for the production of antitumoral therapies, due to their antitumor immunity activation. Agar is used in biomedicine as suspension component in drug solutions and in prescription products, but also as anticoagulant agents. Rhodophyta (red algae) extracts are widely exploited in medical and pharmaceutical sectors, particularly carrageenans and agar. Brown algae possess fucoidans that are already available in the market as nutraceutical products, since they exhibit antibacterial, antiviral anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and antithrombotic effects. Phaeophyceae (brown algae) have been consumed as whole food for a long time in Asian countries however, scientists have only recently gained an understanding of the reasons behind the positive effects that seaweed bioactive compounds have on our health. Seaweeds are classified as brown, red or green algae, and for each group are present diverse bioactive compounds with multiple properties which may be exploited for biotechnological applications. Marine algae have been traditionally used in animal feed and in agriculture and production of biodiesel. They are also found in cosmetics (body lotions, soaps, shampoos, toothpaste). Phycocolloids, which derive from brown and red algae, are used in the food industry (gelling agents), pharmaceuticals (dressings, coatings of medicaments) and biotechnology (culture medium, the Petri dishes). Seaweed bioactive compounds are also employed in biomedical and pharmaceutical industries as they possess antitumoral activity against some type of cancer cell lines, but they do not affect negatively healthy cells, as it happens with current antitumoral treatments. and Undaria pinnatifida (Phaeophyceae) are the three algae mainly consumed in Asian meals. Seaweeds were consumed as whole food since ancient times, and they still have great economic importance. This characteristic makes them even more attractive, as they are a healthy, nutritive and low-caloric food. ![]() Seaweeds possess a low lipid content, nonetheless enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Seaweeds are considered a nutrient-rich food as they are a good source of minerals, vitamins (A, B 1, B 2, B 9, B 12, C, D, E, and K), essential minerals (calcium, iron, iodine, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, and fluoride), dietary fibers, protein, essential amino acids and polyphenols, which exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, there is the need to implement the research on seaweeds, with the aim to identify more bioactive compounds, which may assure benefits to human and animal health. The addition of seaweed extracts in food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and industrial companies will enhance the production and consumption/usage of seaweed-based products. The use of seaweeds in agriculture is also highlighted, as they assure soils and crops free from chemicals thus, it is advantageous for our health. In this review, the health benefits given by consumption of seaweeds as whole food or by assumption of bioactive compounds trough natural drugs are highlighted. Species of class Phaeophyceae, phylum Rhodophyta and Chlorophyta possess unique compounds with several properties that are potential allies of our health, which make them valuable compounds to be involved in biotechnological applications. Recent studies demonstrate the high nutritional value of seaweeds and the powerful properties that seaweeds’ bioactive compounds provide. Currently, seaweeds are gaining major attention due to the benefits they give to our health. ![]()
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