Characteristics of Seaweed as Raw Materials for Cosmetics

Current biodiversity status, distribution, and prospects of seaweed in Indonesia: A systematic review

Seaweeds are a valuable component of marine biodiversity that play multiple essential roles in Indonesia's coastal ecology and economy. This systematic review (1993-2023) aimed to provide an updated overview of seaweed distribution, biodiversity, cultivation, and industry in Indonesia. The literature search derived from major databases, Scopus, Web of Science (WoS) and ResearchGate (RG), and Google Scholar (GS) retrieved 794 studies, after removing 80 duplicates, identified 646 studies passed title and abstract screening that satisfied all criteria: Indonesia, seaweed, seaweed biodiversity and composition, which consisted of 80 exclusion studies. Full text screening decided 194 studies were selected based on the specific inclusion criteria (at least two criteria passed: seaweed distribution site, species, cultivation, and habitat). After additional filtering, 137 studies were included for extraction and analysis. We found that Indonesia is rich in seaweed biodiversity, with at least 325 identified species consisting of 103 Chlorophyceae (green algae), 167 Rhodophyceae (red algae), and 55 Phaeophyceae (brown algae), respectively. Seaweed distribution and abundance in Indonesia are influenced by environmental factors, including nutrients, grazing, competition, physical tolerance, light intensity, and degree of water circulation. Seaweed species are predominantly found in mangrove forests and coral reefs on the islands of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi. This review provides an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the distribution and biodiversity of seaweeds in Indonesia, highlighting the ecological, economic, and cultivation of marine resources. In addition, we identify knowledge gaps and areas for further research, which can inform sustainable seaweed management and utilization in Indonesia. This review also emphasizes the significance of this marine resource to Indonesia's environment and economy.

Seaweed proteins are nutritionally valuable components in the human diet

The global population is expected to reach 11 billion people by the year 2100 and will require sustainable sources of dietary protein. Most dietary protein originates from animal and terrestrial plant agriculture, which leads to deforestation, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. Discovering alternative protein sources that are nutritionally adequate for the human diet without harmful environmental effects is imperative. Seaweeds are a promising option as they produce abundant protein with a low carbon footprint. Experimental evidence shows that seaweeds contain high concentrations of the essential amino acids (EAAs) necessary for human consumption, but seaweeds have yet to be evaluated with standardized metrics to compare their nutritional value to other protein sources. In this technical note, independent literature describing the EAA content and protein digestibility of 3 commonly consumed species of seaweeds was evaluated alongside traditional protein sources using a novel hybrid protein quality (HPQ) metric. HPQ is derived from the protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score and digestibility indispensable amino acid score but includes modifications to address the lack of in vivo digestibility data for seaweeds. Seaweed proteins are similar in quality to common plant protein sources such as peas, soy, and tree nuts. Furthermore, seaweed proteins from different species have complementary EAA profiles and can be mixed to form protein blends that are nutritionally on par with animal products such as milk and whey. Thus, seaweeds may be viable protein sources with a reduced footprint that provide beneficial ecosystem services.

Seaweeds Compounds: An Ecosustainable Source of Cosmetic Ingredients?

Seaweed-based cosmetics are being gradually used by consumers as a substitute of synthetic equivalent products. These seaweed-based products normally contain purified compounds or extracts with several compounds. Several seaweeds’ molecules already demonstrated a high potential as a cosmetic active ingredient (such as, mycosporine-like amino acids, fucoidan, pigments, phenolic compounds) or as a key element for the products consistency (agar, alginate, carrageenan). Moreover, seaweeds’ compounds present important qualities for cosmetic application, such as low cytotoxicity and low allergens content. However, seaweeds’ biochemical profile can be variable, and the extraction methods can cause the loss of some of the biomolecules. This review gives a general look at the seaweed cosmetics benefits and its current application in the cosmetic industry. Moreover, it focuses on the ecological and sustainable scope of seaweed exploitation to guarantee a safe source of ingredients for the cosmetic industry and consumers.

Recent Advances in Marine-Based Nutraceuticals and Their Health Benefits

The oceans have been the Earth's most valuable source of food. They have now also become a valuable and versatile source of bioactive compounds. The significance of marine organisms as a natural source of new substances that may contribute to the food sector and the overall health of humans are expanding. This review is an update on the recent studies of functional seafood compounds (chitin and chitosan, pigments from algae, fish lipids and omega-3 fatty acids, essential amino acids and bioactive proteins/peptides, polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, and minerals) focusing on their potential use as nutraceuticals and health benefits.

Sulfated polysaccharides and its commercial applications in food industries-A review

Polysaccharides a large chain of simple sugars covalently linked by glycosidic bonds which are obtained from living organisms and microbes commercially used in food and pharmaceutical industries. Marine macroalgae or seaweed is an unexploited natural source of polysaccharides, which contains many variant phytonutrients whose cells are enriched with sulfated polysaccharides which have been progressively read these days for their potential value in food and pharmaceutical applications. This review aims the exploration of these polysaccharides in food applications, with a focus on its types and biological properties in the view of food application.

Seaweeds as Source of Bioactive Substances and Skin Care Therapy—Cosmeceuticals, Algotheraphy, and Thalassotherapy

Riverine, estuarine, and coastal populations have always used algae in the development of home remedies that were then used to treat diverse health problems. The empirical knowledge of various generations originated these applications, and their mechanism of action is, in most cases, unknown, that is, few more scientific studies would have been described beyond simple collection and ethnographic recording. Nevertheless, recent investigations, carried out with the purpose of analyzing the components and causes that alter the functioning and the balance of our organism, are already giving their first results. Water, and especially sea water is considered as essential to life on our planet. It sings all the substances necessary and conducive to the development of the living being (minerals, catalysts, vitamins, amino acids, etc.). Oceans cover over 70% of Earth, being home to up to 90% of the organisms in the planet. Many rich resources and unique environments are provided by the ocean. Additionally, bioactive compounds that multiple marine organisms have a great potential to produce can be used as nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and cosmeceuticals. Both primary and secondary metabolites are produced by algae. The first ones are directly implicated in development, normal growth, or reproduction conditions to perform physiological functions. Stress conditions, like temperature changes, salinity, environmental pollutants, or UV radiation exposure cause the performance of secondary metabolites. In algae, proteins, polysaccharides, fatty acids, and amino acids are primary metabolites and phenolic compounds, pigments, vitamins, sterols, and other bioactive agents, all produced in algae tissues, are secondary metabolites. These algal active constituents have direct relevance in cosmetics.