The uses of seaweed
Apr 12th, 2008 by Andy
With such an abundance of biomass on our shores, it would be unthinkable that we couldn’t use it. Seaweeds have formed the source of a multitude of different products, and are used in small amounts in thousands of other products. Almost 90 % of the time the whole seaweed isn’t used, rather the seaweed has been processed to create a ’seaweed extract’ derived from cellular components such as the cytoplasm and the cell wall. It is important to remember that all seaweed extracts are recognised by governmental agencies to be harmless, and all are food-grade and above.
The main products created from seaweeds agars, alginic acid and carrageenans are discussed below, also the main uses in our daily lives each have their own subsections.
Agar
Agar is the best known usage of any seaweed refined product. Used as a bacteriological culture medium, high sterile grades are incredibly expensive, with lesser refined food grades forming the bulk of agar production. There are several main species which form sources of agar, Gelidium and Gracilaria are the most important genera, Ceramium, Phyllophora and several others are also less important sources.
Carrageenans
Extracted from species such as Eucheuma and Chondrus, carrageenans are availible in a variety of different grades (aka purities). These different grades are availible in different categories such as potassium, sodium and calcium salts. Carrageenans fiind themselves used in many different ways the primary usage though is similar for all seaweed derived products, as a thickener or stabiliser. In industry the usages vary although it is used in the production of jellies, jams etc. Pretty much any food that requires a viscogenic texture.
In cosmetics, carrageenans are used in massive amounts, much more than thier counterparts (agars and alginates). Some examples include cosmetics that require thickening, such as toothpastes, soaps, sun screams and solid state deodorant sticks.
Alginates
Alginic acid is commonly extracted from Laminaria, Ecklonia and Macrocystis. Alginates are primarily used as emulsifiers and emulsion stabilisers in creams and lotions, or as a biodegradiable lubricant.
fucus can you help me to looking for the literature about seaweed, especially about the polysaccharide?
thank you
Hi Sari,
Check out these:
Berteau O, Mulloy B (2003) Sulfated fucans, fresh perspectives: structures, functions, and biological properties of sulfated fucans and an overview of enzymes active toward this class of polysaccharide. Glycobiology 13:29R-40R
Chiovitti A, Kraft GT, Bacic A, Liao ML (2001) Gelling polysaccharide from Australian seaweeds: research and potential. Marine and Freshwater Research 52:917-935
Choi EY, Hwang HJ, Kim IH, Nam TJ (2009) Protective effects of a polysaccharide from Hizikia fusiformis against ethanol toxicity in rats. Food and Chemical Toxicology 47:134-139
Damonte E, Neyts J, Pujol CA, Snoeck R, Andrei G, Ikeda S, Witvrouw M, Reymen D, Haines H, Matulewicz MC, Cerezo A, Coto CE, Declercq E (1994) ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY OF A SULFATED POLYSACCHARIDE FROM THE RED SEAWEED NOTHOGENIA-FASTIGIATA. Biochemical Pharmacology 47:2187-2192
De Zoysa M, Nikapitiya C, Jeon YJ, Jee Y, Lee J (2008) Anticoagulant activity of sulfated polysaccharide isolated from fermented brown seaweed Sargassum fulvellum. Journal of Applied Phycology 20:67-74
Devaki T, Sathivel A, BalajiRaghavendran HR (2009) Stabilization of mitochondrial and microsomal function by polysaccharide of Ulva lactuca on D-Galactosamine induced hepatitis in rats. Chemico-Biological Interactions 177:83-88
Deville C, Gharbi M, Dandrifosse G, Peulen O (2007) Study on the effects of laminarin, a polysaccharide from seaweed, on gut characteristics. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 87:1717-1725
Dias PF, Siqueira JM, Maraschin M, Ferreira AG, Gagliardi AR, Ribeiro-do-Valle RM (2008) A polysaccharide isolated from the brown seaweed Sargassum stenophyllum exerts antivasculogenic effects evidenced by modified morphogenesis. Microvascular Research 75:34-44
Dias PF, Siqueira JM, Vendruscolo LF, Neiva TD, Gagliardi AR, Maraschin M, Ribeiro-do-Valle RM (2005) Antiangiogenic and antitumoral properties of a polysaccharide isolated from the seaweed Sargassum stenophyllum. Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology 56:436-446
Furusawa E, Hirazumi A, Story S, Jensen J (2003) Antitumour potential of a polysaccharide-rich substance from the fruit juice of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) on sarcoma 180 ascites tumour in mice. Phytotherapy Research 17:1158-1164
Geiger T, Michel F (2005) Studies on the polysaccharide JunFunori used to consolidate matt paint. Studies in Conservation 50:193-204
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Kapraun DF (1999) Red algal polysaccharide industry: economics and research status at the turn of the century XVIth International Seaweed Symposium on the Seaweed Industry and Research and Development – A Solid Partnership, Cebu, Philippines, p 7-14
Kato Y, Odagiri S, Teraoka K, Ito Y (2006) Polysaccharide composition of Ecklonia stolonifera Okamura and their enzymatic hydrolysis. In: Somiya S, Doyama M (eds) Joint Symposia of the Materials-Research-Society-of-Japan, Tokyo, JAPAN, p 1159-1162
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Li Y, Tian XH, Cong JB, Teng X, Sun CP, Gu JF (1999) Studies on the inhibitory effects of sulfated polysaccharide from brown seaweed on the respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 26:162-164
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