Abstract
The earth’s crust is mainly composed of water (75%), and it is estimated that roughly 50–80% of the earth’s oxygen production comes from the oceans. Most products are made from seaweed. Half of the world’s biodiversity consists of marine life, which provides numerous new compounds that can be evaluated for medicinal activity. The macroalgae include numerous marine species-rich in bioactive compounds that are available to humans and animals. In the last three decades, seaweeds have been known for the high diversity of their metabolites which are used for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, antiviral antihyperlipidemic, anticoagulant, antifungal, antibacterial, and tissue healing properties. At first, the seaweed was consumed as food; later, some discoveries in new species led the way to yield industrial, medicinal, pharmaceutical, and commercial products. In the proposed chapter, we discussed different types of seaweed species used for drug development and their medicinal properties.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Abdussalam S (1990) Drugs from seaweeds. Med Hypotheses 32(1):33–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-9877(90)90064-L
Abu-Khudir R, Ismail GA, Diab T (2021) Antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-tumor activities of Sargassum linearifolium and Cystoseira crinita from Egyptian Mediterranean Coast. Nutr Cancer 73(5):829–844. https://doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2020.1764069
Anand N, Rachel D, Thangaraju N, Anantharaman P (2016) Potential of marine algae (seaweeds) as a source of medicinally important compounds. Plant Genet Resour: Characterisation Util 14(4):303–313. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1479262116000381
Aruna P, Mansuya P, Sridhar S, Suresh Kumar J, Babu S (2010) Pharmacognostical and antifungal activity of selected seaweeds from Gulf of Mannar region. Recent Res Sci Technol 2(1):2076–5061. www.recent-science.com
Athukorala Y, Lee KW, Song C, Ahn CB, Shin TS, Cha YJ, Shahidi F, JeonY J (2003) Potential antioxidant activity of marine red alga grateloupia filicina extracts. J Food Lipids 10(3):251–265. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-4522.2003.tb00019.x
Athulya K, Anitha T (2019) Algal biodiversity along southern coasts of india : a review. 6(2):93–101.
Balakrishnan D, Kandasamy D, Nithyanand P (2014) A review on antioxidant activity of marine organisms. Int J ChemTech Res 6(7):3431–3436
Bauer S, Jin W, Zhang F, Linhardt RJ (2021) The application of seaweed polysaccharides and their derived products with potential for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Mar Drugs 19(2):89. https://doi.org/10.3390/md19020089
Bhagyaraj I, Kunchithapatham VR (2016) Diversity and distribution of seaweeds in the shores and water lagoons of Chennai and Rameshwaram coastal areas, South-Eastern coast of India. Biodivers J 7(4):923–934
Bhuyar P, Rahim MH, Sundararaju S, Maniam GP, Govindan N (2020) Antioxidant and antibacterial activity of red seaweed; Kappaphycus alvarezii against pathogenic bacteria. Glob J Environ Sci Manag 6(1):47–58. https://doi.org/10.22034/gjesm.2020.01.04
Blunt JW, Copp BR, Hu WP, Munro MHG, Northcote PT, Prinsep MR (2009) Marine natural products. Nat Prod Rep 26(2):170–244. https://doi.org/10.1039/b805113p
Broadbent D (1966) Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, Pharmaceuticals Division, Research Department, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. 32:219–242.
Buck CB, Thompson CD, Roberts JN, Müller M, Lowy DR, Schiller JT (2006) Carrageenan is a potent inhibitor of papillomavirus infection. PLoS Pathog 2(7):671–680. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.0020069
Cabral EM, Oliveira M, Mondala JRM, Curtin J, Tiwari BK, Garcia-Vaquero M (2021) Antimicrobials from seaweeds for food applications. Mar Drugs 19(4):211. https://doi.org/10.3390/md19040211
Carneiro RF, Duarte PL, Chaves RP, da Silva SR, Feitosa RR, de Sousa BL, da Silva Alves AW, de Vasconcelos MA, da Rocha BAM, Teixeira EH, Sampaio AH, Nagano CS (2020) New lectins from Codium isthmocladum Vickers show unique amino acid sequence and antibiofilm effect on pathogenic bacteria. J Appl Phycol 32(6):4263–4276. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-020-02198-x
Celikler S, Yildiz G, Vatan O, Bilaloglu R (2008) In vitro antigenotoxicity of Ulva rigida C. Agardh (Chlorophyceae) extract against induction of chromosome aberration, sister chromatid exchange and micronuclei by mutagenic agent MMC. Biomed Environ Sci 21(6):492–498. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0895-3988(09)60008-8
Cohen AJ, Brauer M, Burnett R, Anderson HR, Frostad J, Estep K, Balakrishnan K, Brunekreef B, Dandona L, Dandona R, Feigin V, Freedman G, Hubbell B, Jobling A, Kan H, Knibbs L, Liu Y, Martin R, Morawska L, Pope CA, Shin H, Straif K, Shaddick G, Thomas M, Dingenen R, Donkelaar A, Vos T, Murray CJL, Forouzanfar MH (2017) Estimates and 25-year trends of the global burden of disease attributable to ambient air pollution: an analysis of data from the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2015. Lancet 389(10082):1907–1918
Cornish M, Garbary DJ (2010) Antioxidants from macroalgae: potential applications in human health and nutrition. Algae 25(4):155–171. https://doi.org/10.4490/algae.2010.25.4.155
De Corato U, Salimbeni R, De Pretis A, Avella N, Patruno G (2017) Antifungal activity of crude extracts from brown and red seaweeds by a supercritical carbon dioxide technique against fruit postharvest fungal diseases. Postharvest Biol Technol 131(January):16–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2017.04.011
El-Shafei R, Hegazy H, Acharya B (2021) A review of antiviral and antioxidant activity of bioactive metabolite of macroalgae within an optimized extraction method. Energies 14(11):3092. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14113092
Freile-Pelegrín Y, Tasdemir D (2019) Seaweeds to the rescue of forgotten diseases: a review. Bot Mar 62(3):211–226. https://doi.org/10.1515/bot-2018-0071
Ganesan M, Trivedi N, Gupta V, Madhav SV, Radhakrishna Reddy C, Levine IA (2019) Seaweed resources in India—Current status of diversity and cultivation: Prospects and challenges. Bot Mar 2016(Fao 2018):1–21. https://doi.org/10.1515/bot-2018-0056
Ghosh T, Pujol CA, Damonte EB, Sinha S, Ray B (2009) Sulfated xylomannans from the red seaweed Sebdenia polydactyla: structural features, chemical modification and antiviral activity. Antiviral Chem Chemother 19(6):235–242. https://doi.org/10.1177/095632020901900603
Gomez-Zavaglia A, Prieto Lage MA, Jimenez-Lopez C, Mejuto JC, Simal-Gandara J (2019) The potential of seaweeds as a source of functional ingredients of prebiotic and antioxidant value. Antioxidants 8(9):406. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox8090406
Hudson JB, Kim JH, Lee MK, DeWreede RE, Hong YK (1998) Antiviral compounds in extracts of Korean seaweeds: evidence for multiple activities. J Appl Phycol 10(5):427–434. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008004117305
Hudson JB, Kim JH, Lee MK, Hong YK, DeWreede RE (1999) Multiple antiviral activities in extracts of seaweeds from British Columbia. Pharma Biol 37(4):300–306
Hwang H, Chen T, Nines RG, Shin HC, Stoner GD (2006) Photochemoprevention of UVB-induced skin carcinogenesis in SKH-1 mice by brown algae polyphenols. Int J Cancer 119(12):2742–2749. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.22147
Jayaraj J, Wan A, Rahman M, Punja ZK (2008) Seaweed extract reduces foliar fungal diseases on carrot. Crop Protect 27(10):1360–1366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2008.05.005
Jha B, Reddy CRK, Thakur MK, Rao MU (2009) Seaweeds of India. The diversity and distribution of Seaweeds in Gujarat Coast. CSMCRI, Bhavnagar, p 215
Kaliaperumal N, Kalimuthu S (1997) Seaweed potential and its exploitation in India. Seaweed Res Util 19(1&2):33–40
Katsaros C, Galatis B (1988) Thallus development in Dictyopteris membranacea (Phaeophyta, Dictyotales). Br Phycol J 23:71–88
Keleszade E, Patterson M, Trangmar S, Guinan KJ, Costabile A (2021) Clinical efficacy of brown seaweeds ascophyllum nodosum and fucus vesiculosus in the prevention or delay progression of the metabolic syndrome: a review of clinical trials. Molecules 26(3):714. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26030714
Kolanjinathan K, Ganesh P, Saranraj P (2014) Pharmacological importance of seaweeds: a review. World J Fish Marine Sci 6(1):1–15. https://doi.org/10.5829/idosi.wjfms.2014.06.01.76195
Kumar KS (2018) Seaweeds: distribution, production and uses
Lee JH, Kim GH (2015) Evaluation of antioxidant activity of marine algae-extracts from Korea. J Aquat Food Prod Technol 24(3):227–240. https://doi.org/10.1080/10498850.2013.770809
Lemos ML, Toranzo AE, Barja JL (1985) Antibiotic activity of epiphytic bacteria isolated from intertidal seaweeds. Microb Ecol 11(2):149–163. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02010487
Lewis LA, Mccourt RM (2004) Green algae and the origin of land plants. Am J Bot 91(10):1535–1556
Liu J, Luthuli S, Wu Q, Wu M, Choi J II, Tong H (2020) Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical potential applications of Sargassum fulvellum. Biomed Res Int 2020:13–15. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/2417410
Lomartire S, Marques JC, Gonçalves AMM (2021) An overview to the health benefits of seaweeds consumption. Mar Drugs 19(6):341. https://doi.org/10.3390/md19060341
Mandal P, Mateu CG, Chattopadhyay K, Pujol CA, Damonte EB, Ray B (2007) Structural features and antiviral activity of sulphated fucans from the brown seaweed Cystoseira indica. Antiviral Chem Chemother 18(3):153–162. https://doi.org/10.1177/095632020701800305
Menaa F, Wijesinghe PAUI, Thiripuranathar G, Uzair B, Iqbal H, Khan BA, Menaa B (2020) Ecological and industrial implications of dynamic seaweed-associated microbiota interactions. Mar Drugs 18(12):1–25. https://doi.org/10.3390/md18120641
Moga MA, Dima L, Balan A, Blidaru A, Dimienescu OG, Podasca C, Toma S (2021) Are bioactive molecules from seaweeds a novel and challenging option for the prevention of HPV infection and cervical cancer therapy?—a review. Int J Mol Sci 22(2):1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22020629
Negara BFSP, Sohn JH, Kim JS, Choi JS (2021) Antifungal and larvicidal activities of phlorotannins from brown seaweeds. Mar Drugs 19(4):1–11. https://doi.org/10.3390/MD19040223
Niklas KJ, Ulrich K (2009) The evolutionary development of plant body plans. Funct Plant Biol 36:682–695
Pal A, Kamthania MC, Kumar A (2014) Bioactive compounds and properties of seaweeds—a review. OALib 1(4):1–17. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1100752
Pereira L, Valado A (2021) The seaweed diet in prevention and treatment of the neurodegenerative diseases. Mar Drugs 19:1–25
Pérez MJ, Falqué E, Domínguez H (2016) Antimicrobial action of compounds from marine seaweed. Mar Drugs 14(3):1–38. https://doi.org/10.3390/md14030052
Phaeophyta T (1979) Range of thallus organization. I.
Plouguerné E, de Souza LM, Sassaki GL, Cavalcanti JF, Villela Romanos MT, da Gama BA, Pereira RC, Barreto-Bergter E (2013) Antiviral Sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerols (SQDGs) from the Brazilian brown seaweed Sargassum vulgare. Mar Drugs 11(11):4628–4640. https://doi.org/10.3390/md11114628. PMID: 24284427; PMCID: PMC3853750
Ravikumar S, Anburajan L, Ramanathan G, Kaliaperumal N (2002) Screening of seaweed extracts against antibiotic resistant post operative infectious pathogens. Seaweed Res Util 24:95–99
Reichelt JL, Borowitzka MA (1984) Antimicrobial activity from marine algae: results of a large-scale screening programme. In: Bird CJ, Ragan MA (eds) Eleventh International Seaweed Symposium. Developments in hydrobiology, vol 22. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-6560-7_26
Rioux LE, Turgeon SL (2015) Seaweed carbohydrates. In: Seaweed sustainability: food and non-food applications. Elsevier, pp 141–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-418697-2.00007-6
Sakhalkar SS, Mishra RL (2014) Biodiversity of Marine Benthic Algae from Intertidal Zone of Konkan Coast (Maharashtra). Indian J Appl Res 4(2):1–3
Shannon E, Conlon M, Hayes M (2021) Seaweed components as potential modulators of the gut microbiota. Mar Drugs 19(7):1–50. https://doi.org/10.3390/md19070358
Shanura Fernando IP, Kim M, Son KT, Jeong Y, Jeon YJ (2016) Antioxidant activity of marine algal polyphenolic compounds: a mechanistic approach. J Med Food 19(7):615–628. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2016.3706
Sheath RG, Wehr JD (2015) Introduction to the freshwater algae. In: Freshwater algae of North America: ecology and classification, pp 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-385876-4.00001-3
Shi Q, Wang A, Lu Z, Qin C, Hu J, Yin J (2017) Overview on the antiviral activities and mechanisms of marine polysaccharides from seaweeds. Carbohydr Res 453–454:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carres.2017.10.020
Smit AJ (2004) Medicinal and pharmaceutical uses of seaweed natural products: a review. J Appl Phycol 16(4):245–262. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JAPH.0000047783.36600.ef
Soares AR, Robaina MCS, Mendes GS, Silva TSL, Gestinari LMS, Pamplona OS, Yoneshigue-Valentin Y, Kaiser CR, Romanos MTV (2012) Antiviral activity of extracts from Brazilian seaweeds against herpes simplex virus. Rev Bras Farma 22(4):714–723. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-695X2012005000061
Surender Reddy K, Abraham A, Afewerki B, Tsegay B, Ghebremedhin H, Teklehaimanot B (2018) Extraction of agar and alginate from marine seaweeds in Red Sea region. Int J Mar Biol Res 3(2):1–8. https://doi.org/10.15226/24754706/3/2/00126
Tamama K (2021) Potential benefits of dietary seaweeds as protection against COVID-19. Nutr Rev 79(7):814–823. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuaa126
Thirunavukkarasu R, Mary Shamya A, Joseph J (2019) Screening of phytochemical, antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity of marine seaweeds. Int J Pharm Pharm Sci 11(1):61. https://doi.org/10.22159/ijpps.2019v11i1.29119
Titlyanov EA, Titlyanova TV, Li X, Huang H (2017) Marine plants of coral reefs. In: Coral reef marine plants of Hainan island. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-811963-1.00002-0
Wang H, Ooi EV, Ang PO (2008) Antiviral activities of extracts from Hong Kong seaweeds. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 9(12):969–976. https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B0820154
Williams SL, Smith JE (2007) A global review of the distribution, taxonomy, and impacts of introduced seaweeds. Annu Rev Ecol Evol Syst 38:327–359. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.38.091206.095543
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Manoj Kumar, K.P., Arunkumar, K. (2023). The Seaweed a Gold Mine for Drugs. In: Sukumaran, S.T., T R, K. (eds) Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Bioresources. Sustainable Development and Biodiversity, vol 30. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-5841-0_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-5841-0_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-19-5840-3
Online ISBN: 978-981-19-5841-0
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)