Edible seaweeds are rich in bioactive antioxidants, soluble dietary fibers, proteins, minerals, vitamins, phytochemicals, and polyunsaturated fatty acids Although previously the seaweeds were only used as gelling and thickening agents in the food or pharmaceutical industries, recent researches have revealed their potential as complementary medicine The red, brown and green seaweeds have been shown to have therapeutic properties for health and disease management, such as anticancer, antiobesity, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antiestrogenic, thyroid stimulating, neuroprotective, antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial and tissue healing properties in vivo Active compounds include sulphated polysaccharides, phlorotannins, carotenoids (eg fucoxanthin), minerals, peptides and sulfolipids, with proven benefits against degenerative metabolic diseases Their therapeutic modes of action and bioactive components have been meticulously studied by scientists and their reports are summarized in this review

Seaweeds: A sustainable functional food for complementary and alternative therapy

The proximate composition, vitamin C, α-tocopherol, dietary fibers, minerals, fatty acid and amino acid profiles of three tropical edible seaweeds, Eucheuma cottonii (Rhodophyta), Caulerpa lentillifera (Chlorophyta) and Sargassum polycystum (Phaeophyta) were studied. The seaweeds were high in ash (37.15–46.19%) and dietary fibers (25.05–39.67%) and low in lipid content (0.29–1.11%) on dry weight (DW) basis. These seaweeds contained 12.01–15.53% macro-minerals (Na, K, Ca and Mg) and 7.53–71.53 mg.100 g−1 trace minerals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Se and I). The crude protein content of E. cottonii (9.76% DW) and C. lentillifera (10.41% DW) were higher than that of S. polycystum (5.4% DW), and protein chemical scores are between 20 and 67%. The PUFA content of E. cottonii was 51.55%, C. lentillifera 16.76% and S. polycystum 20.34%. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), accounted for 24.98% of all fatty acids in E. cottonii. These seaweeds have significant vitamin C (∼35 mg.100 g−1) and α-tocopherol (5.85–11.29 mg.100 g−1) contents.

/pdf/nutrient-content-of-tropical-edible-seaweeds-eucheuma-1qt21wwwkq.pdf

Nutrient content of tropical edible seaweeds, Eucheuma cottonii, Caulerpa lentillifera and Sargassum polycystum

In vitro antioxidant properties of crude extracts and compounds from brown algae

The underlying physiology of algal antioxidant compounds is reviewed in the context of seaweed biology and utilization. The application of seaweed antioxidants in foods, food supplements, nutraceuticals and medicine is considered from the perspective of benefits to human health. We advocate that direct consumption of seaweed products for their antioxidant composition alone provides a useful alternative to non-natural substances, while simultaneously providing worthwhile nutritional benefits. Economic utilization of seaweeds for their antioxidant properties remains in its infancy. This review provides examples ranging from laboratory studies through to clinical trials where antioxidants derived from seaweeds may provide major health benefits that warrant subsequent investigative studies and possible utilization.

/pdf/antioxidants-from-macroalgae-potential-applications-in-human-2qr58h18lh.pdf

Antioxidants from macroalgae: potential applications in human health and nutrition

Marine algae are known to contain a wide variety of bioactive compounds, many of which have commercial applications in pharmaceutical, medical, cosmetic, nutraceutical, food and agricultural industries. Natural antioxidants, found in many algae, are important bioactive compounds that play an important role against various diseases and ageing processes through protection of cells from oxidative damage. In this respect, relatively little is known about the bioactivity of Hawaiian algae that could be a potential natural source of such antioxidants. The total antioxidant activity of organic extracts of 37 algal samples, comprising of 30 species of Hawaiian algae from 27 different genera was determined. The activity was determined by employing the FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) assays. Of the algae tested, the extract of Turbinaria ornata was found to be the most active. Bioassay-guided fractionation of this extract led to the isolation of a variety of different carotenoids as the active principles. The major bioactive antioxidant compound was identified as the carotenoid fucoxanthin. These results show, for the first time, that numerous Hawaiian algae exhibit significant antioxidant activity, a property that could lead to their application in one of many useful healthcare or related products as well as in chemoprevention of a variety of diseases including cancer.

/pdf/antioxidant-activity-of-hawaiian-marine-algae-19vckhnlze.pdf

Antioxidant Activity of Hawaiian Marine Algae

The antioxidant activity of eight edible species of Malaysian North Borneo seaweeds obtained from Sabah waters (Kudat, Tanjung Aru and Semporna) consisting of three red seaweeds (Eucheuma cottonii, E. spinosum and Halymenia durvillaei), two green seaweeds (Caulerpa lentillifera and C. racemosa) and three brown seaweeds (Dictyota dichotoma, Sargassum polycystum and Padina sp.) were determined. Methanol and diethyl ether were used as extraction solvent. The antioxidant activities were determined by two methods, TEAC (trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity) and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) assays. The total phenolic content of the extract was determined according to the Folin–Ciocalteu method and results were expressed as phloroglucinol equivalents. The methanolic extracts of green seaweeds, C. lentillifera and C. racemosa, and the brown seaweed, S. polycystum showed better radical-scavenging and reducing power ability, and higher phenolic content than the other seaweeds. The TEAC and FRAP assays showed positive and significantly high correlation (R
 2 = 0.89). There was a strong correlation (R
 2 = 0.96) between the reducing power and the total phenolic content of the seaweeds methanolic dry extracts. These seaweeds could be potential rich sources of natural antioxidants.

/pdf/antioxidant-activities-and-phenolics-content-of-eight-6rhl1ctmry.pdf

Antioxidant activities and phenolics content of eight species of seaweeds from north Borneo

/pdf/untangle-the-convoluted-nots-learning-renal-physiology-jxznkq6n.pdf

Untangle the Convoluted NOTs: Learning Renal Physiology

/pdf/using-portmanteau-to-create-meanings-in-new-physiology-words-3huz04ui.pdf

Cheng Hwee Ming

Papers

Antioxidant activities and phenolics content of eight species of seaweeds from north Borneo

Untangle the Convoluted NOTs: Learning Renal Physiology

Using Portmanteau to Create Meanings in New Physiology Words