Algae as an Important Resource of Natural Products of Medical and Biotechnological  Importance: A Mini-Review: http://www.doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v1i4.2

Tosin A. Olasehinde; Ademola O. Olaniran; Leonard  V. Mabinya; Anthony  I. Okoh

Authors

Tosin A. Olasehinde Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG), University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa.
Ademola O. Olaniran Discipline of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
Leonard V. Mabinya SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa.
Anthony I. Okoh Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG), University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa.

Keywords:

Microalgae,, Macroalgae,, Biotechnology,, Health,, Natural products.

Abstract

Algae are typically aquatic chlorophyll-containing organisms comprised of unicellular microscopic forms as well as large macroscopic entities such as seaweeds. The biomasses derived from algae are potential sources of bioactive compounds, biofuels and food-based products. Most of the biologically active products obtained from algae are used in pharmaceutical, food, agricultural and energy industries. Several natural products such as polyphenols, sterols, polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins, sulphated polysaccharides, alkaloids, alginic acid, and carotenoids have been identified and isolated from some species of macroalgae and microalgae, and have found great application in biotechnology, medicine, human and animal nutrition. Despite several reports on the biological activities of natural products from algae and their application as functional foods as well as in renewable energy, many species of macroalgae and microalgae are yet to be explored. Future research may focus on identification of new species and their novel bioactive products and application in the food, pharmaceutical, agricultural and energy industries. Hence, this paper highlights the usefulness of algae as a reservoir of natural products in biotechnology and medicine.

References

Tierney MS, Croft AK, Hayes M. A review of antihypertensive and antioxidant activities in macroalgae. Botanica Marina 2010; 53:387–408.

Rahelivao MP, Gruner M, Andriamanantoanina H, Andriamihaja B, Bauer I, Knölker H. Red Algae (Rhodophyta) from the Coast of Madagascar: Preliminary Bioactivity Studies and Isolation of Natural Products. Mar Drugs 2015; 13:4197-4216.

Alghazwi M, Kan YQ, Zhang W, Gai WP, Garson MJ, Smid S. Neuroprotective activities of natural products from marine macroalgae during 1999–2015. J Appl Phycol. 2016; 28:3599-3616.

Rengasamy KR, Kulkarni MG, Stirk WA, Staden JV. Advances in algal drug research with emphasis on enzyme inhibitors. Biotechnol Adv. 2014; 32:1364-1381.

Holdt SL, Kraan S, Bioactive compounds in seaweed: functional food applications and legislation. J Appl Phycol. 2011; 23:543–597.

Hong DD, Hien HT. Nutritional analysis of Vietnamese seaweeds for food and medicine. Biofactors 2004; 22:323-325.

Torres FA, Passalacquaa, TG, Velásqueza AM, Souzab RA, Colepicolod P, Graminha MA. New drugs with antiprotozoal activity from marine algae: a review. Rev Bras Farmacogn. 2014; 24:265-276.

Guedes EA, da Silva TG, Aguiar JS, de Barros LD, Pinotti LM, Sant’Ana AG. Cytotoxic activity of marine algae against cancerous cells. Braz J Pharmacognosy 2013; 23(4):668-673.

Suleria HA, Osborne S, Masci P, Gobe G. Marine-Based Nutraceuticals: An Innovative Trend in the Food and Supplement Industries. Mar Drugs 2015; 13:6336-6351.

Lee S, Jeon Y. Anti-diabetic effects of brown algae derived phlorotannins, marine polyphenols through diverse mechanisms. Fitoterapia 2013; 86:129–136.

Gao Y, Li C, Yin J, Shen J, Wang H, Wu Y, Jin H. Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide from brown algae, improves cognitive impairment induced by infusion of Aβ peptide in rats. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2012; 33(2):304-311.

Hu J, Geng M, Li J, Xin X, Wang J, Tang M, Zhang J, Zhang X, Ding J. Acidic oligosaccharide sugar chain, a marine-derived acidic oligosaccharide, inhibits the cytotoxicity and aggregation of amyloid beta protein. J Pharmacol Sci. 2004; 95:248–255.

Spolaore P, Joannis-Cassan C, Duran E, Isambert A. Commercial Applications of Microalgae. J Biosci. Bioeng. 2006; 101:87-96.

Olasehinde TA, Olaniran AO, Okoh AI. Therapeutic Potentials of Microalgae in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. Molecules 2017; 22(3):480.

Vlieghe P, Clerc T, Pannecouque C, Witvrouw M, de Clercq E, Salles JP, Kraus JL. Synthesis of new covalently bound kappacarrageenan-AZT conjugates with improved anti-HIV activities. J Medicinal Chem. 2002; 45:1275-1283.

Freile-Pelegrín Y, Murano E. Agars from three species of Gracilaria (Rhodophyta) from Yucatán Peninsula. Bioresour Technol. 2005; 96(3):295-302.

Katiyara R, Gurjara BR, Biswasa S, Pruthia V, Kumard N, Kumar P. Microalgae: An emerging source of energy based bioproducts and a solution for environmental issues. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Rev. 2017; 72:1083-1093.

Dahiya A, Todd JH, McInnis A. Wastewater Treatment Integrated with Algae Production for Biofuel. The Sci of Algal Fuels 2012; 447-466 p.

Chekroun KB, Sánchez E, Baghour M. The role of algae in bioremediation of organic pollutants. Int Res J Public Environ. Health 2014; 1(2):19-32.

Abdel-Raouf N, Al-Homaidan AA, Ibraheem IBM. Microalgae and wastewater treatment. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2012; 19(3):257-275.

Zhou D, Zhang LA, Zhang SC, Fu HB, Chen JM. Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Macroalgae Enteromorpha prolifera to Bio-oil.

Energ. Fuel 2010; 24:4054–4061.

Song M, Pham HD, Seon J, Woo HC. Marine brown algae: A conundrum answer for sustainable biofuels production. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Rev. 2015; 50:782-792.

Sirajunnisa AR, Surendhiran D. Algae – A quintessential and positive resource of bioethanol production: A comprehensive review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Rev. 2016; 66:248-267