Global demand for macroalgal and microalgal foods is growing, and algae are increasingly being consumed for functional benefits beyond the traditional considerations of nutrition and health. There is substantial evidence for the health benefits of algal-derived food products, but there remain considerable challenges in quantifying these benefits, as well as possible adverse effects. First, there is a limited understanding of nutritional composition across algal species, geographical regions, and seasons, all of which can substantially affect their dietary value. The second issue is quantifying which fractions of algal foods are bioavailable to humans, and which factors influence how food constituents are released, ranging from food preparation through genetic differentiation in the gut microbiome. Third is understanding how algal nutritional and functional constituents interact in human metabolism. Superimposed considerations are the effects of harvesting, storage, and food processing techniques that can dramatically influence the potential nutritive value of algal-derived foods. We highlight this rapidly advancing area of algal science with a particular focus on the key research required to assess better the health benefits of an alga or algal product. There are rich opportunities for phycologists in this emerging field, requiring exciting new experimental and collaborative approaches.

https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs10811-016-0974-5.pdf

Algae as nutritional and functional food sources: revisiting our understanding

https://academicworks.medicine.hofstra.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1534&context=articles

HMGB1 in Health and Disease

The pressing issue to feed the increasing world population has created a demand to enhance food production, which has to be cheaper, but at the same time must meet high quality standards. Taste, appearance, texture, and microbiological safety are required to be preserved within a foodstuff for the longest period of time. Although considerable improvements have been achieved in terms of food additives, some are still enveloped in controversy. The lack of uniformity in worldwide laws regarding additives, along with conflicting results of many studies help foster this controversy. In this report, the most important preservatives, nutritional additives, coloring, flavoring, texturizing, and miscellaneous agents are analyzed in terms of safety and toxicity. Natural additives and extracts, which are gaining interest due to changes in consumer habits are also evaluated in terms of their benefits to health and combined effects. Technologies, like edible coatings and films, which have helped overcome some drawbacks of additives, but still pose some disadvantages, are briefly addressed. Future trends like nanoencapsulation and the development of "smart" additives and packages, specific vaccines for intolerance to additives, use of fungi to produce additives, and DNA recombinant technologies are summarized.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1541-4337.12065

Adding Molecules to Food, Pros and Cons: A Review on Synthetic and Natural Food Additives

Biological activities and potential industrial applications of fucose rich sulfated polysaccharides and fucoidans isolated from brown seaweeds: A review

Health safety issues of synthetic food colorants.

Tartrazine is an artificial azo dye commonly used in human food and pharmaceutical products The present study was conducted to evaluate the toxic effect of tartrazine on the learning and memory functions in mice and rats Animals were administered different doses of tartrazine for a period of 30 d and were evaluated by open-field test, step-through test, and Morris water maze test, respectively Furthermore, the biomarkers of the oxidative stress and pathohistology were also measured to explore the possible mechanisms involved The results indicated that tartrazine extract significantly enhanced active behavioral response to the open field, increased the escape latency in Morris water maze test and decreased the retention latency in step-through tests The decline in the activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as a rise in the level of malonaldehyde (MDA) were observed in the brain of tartrazine-treated rats, and these changes were associated with the brain from oxidative damage The dose levels of tartrazine in the present study produced a few adverse effects in learning and memory functions in animals The mechanisms might be attributed to promoting lipid peroxidation products and reactive oxygen species, inhibiting endogenous antioxidant defense enzymes and the brain tissue damage

Practical Application:  Tartrazine is an artificial azo dye commonly used in human food and pharmaceutical products Since the last assessment carried out by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives in 1964, many new studies have been conducted However, there is a little information about the effects on learning and memory performance The present study was conducted to evaluate the toxic effect of tartrazine on the learning and memory functions in animals and its possible mechanism involved Based on our results, we believe that more extensive assessment of food additives in current use is warranted

Effect of food azo dye tartrazine on learning and memory functions in mice and rats, and the possible mechanisms involved.

Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide from brown algae, against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats via regulating the inflammation response.

Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide from brown algae, improves cognitive impairment induced by infusion of Aβ peptide in rats.

Anti-inflammatory effects of sophocarpine in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells via NF-κB and MAPKs signaling pathways

One of the plausible ways to prevent the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated cellular injury is dietary or pharmaceutical augmentation of endogenous antioxidant defense capacity. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effect of fucoidan on H2O2-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells and the possible signaling pathways involved. The results showed that fucoidan inhibited the decrease of cell viability, scavenged ROS formation and reduced lactate dehydrogenase release in H2O2-induced PC12 cells. These changes were associated with an increase in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity, and reduction in malondialdehyde. In addition, fucoidan treatment inhibited apoptosis in H2O2-induced PC12 cells by increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and decreasing active caspase-3 expression, as well as enhancing Akt phosphorylation (p-Akt). However, the protection of fucoidan on cell survival, p-Akt, the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and caspase-3 activity were abolished by pretreating with phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002. In consequence, fucoidan might protect the neurocytes against H2O2-induced apoptosis via reducing ROS levels and activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Yonglin Gao

Papers

Effect of food azo dye tartrazine on learning and memory functions in mice and rats, and the possible mechanisms involved.

Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide from brown algae, against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats via regulating the inflammation response.

Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide from brown algae, improves cognitive impairment induced by infusion of Aβ peptide in rats.

Anti-inflammatory effects of sophocarpine in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells via NF-κB and MAPKs signaling pathways

Neuroprotective Effect of Fucoidan on H2O2-Induced Apoptosis in PC12 Cells Via Activation of PI3K/Akt Pathway