Marine Algal Bioactive Metabolites and their Pharmacological Applications

Abstract

Thousands of bioactive components are derived from various marine macro and microalgae. Such beneficial algae are considered as a renewable and sustainable resource of bioactives with potential use as dietary food supplement, anti-viral, antiinflammatory, anti-cancerous, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial agents which can provide nutritive and health care benefits. The biochemical infrastructure of algae comprises proteins, lipids, polysaccharides, minerals, vitamins etc. which can be used as nutritional and dietary sources along with use in therapeutics and cosmetics. The therapeutic and industrial applications of the algal derivatives are primarily due to the secondary metabolites such as astaxanthin, aquamin, alginates, fucoidan, omega-3- fatty acids, polyphenols, fucoxanthin, etc. This chapter focuses on various algae derived bioactives and their wide range of applications.