Chemical composition of seaweed and its medical-biological properties

Abstract

RELEVANCE. Seaweed, along with all the other aquatic biological resources, is of great economic importance for all countries of the world community. Due to positive effects of biologically active substances, contained therein, it is widely used as dietary supplements, drugs, hydrocolloids (agar, alginates, carrageenan). OBJECTIVE. Based on literature data to study current knowledge about the chemical composition of seaweed and its medical-biological properties, which can be used in life activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study used literature sources from international databases Web of Science, Scopus as well as the national library system eLibrary. The keywords in the search engine: seaweed, biochemical composition, biologically active properties, medical importance. RESULTS. The chemical composition of seaweed is due to its habitat. It contains practically all chemical elements, present in seawater. Because of beneficial biological effects, seaweed is widely used by humans, especially in medicine. Among organic compounds seaweed is rich in polysaccharides, lipids, protein compounds as well as vitamins. The main part of polysaccharides belongs to alginic acid and fucoidan. Alginates have anti-inflammatory, sorption and reparative properties, normalize metabolism. Fucoidans have anticoagulant and antioxidant effect, inhibit penetration of viruses into tissue cells. DISCUSSION. Seaweed is rich in protein compounds. It contains all essential amino acids. Moreover, all classes of fatty acid (especially polyunsaturated) are found in seaweed. Lastly, many water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins are synthesized in seaweed, like plants on land: ascorbic acid, tocopherols, carotenes, thiamine, cobalamins, etc. It is concluded that seaweed can be considered a unique supplier of biologically active components: minerals, proteins, polysaccharides, polyunsaturated fats and vitamins. Its use is justified with therapeutic and preventive purposes.