Algae Therapeutics & Bioactives

Algae including microalgae and macroalgae are prolific producers of structurally diverse bioactive compounds with broad pharmacological activities. Their biochemical repertoire-polysaccharides polyphenols carotenoids fatty acids sterols peptides and pigments-confers potent antioxidant anti-inflammatory anticancer immunomodulatory antifibrotic and antimicrobial effects. Sulfated polysaccharides like fucoidan and carrageenan modulate immune responses and fibrotic pathways while pigments such as phycocyanin and carotenoids like astaxanthin and fucoxanthin protect against oxidative stress and cellular damage. Algal compounds also exhibit anticancer potential by inhibiting tumor growth angiogenesis and metastasis and inducing apoptosis via NF-κB MAPK and Akt/mTOR pathways. Furthermore they show efficacy in models of respiratory metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases.