Ecklonia radiata extract containing eckol protects neuronal cells against Aβ1-42 evoked toxicity and reduces aggregate density

Marine Macroalgae Polyphenols as Potential Neuroprotective Antioxidants in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Polyphenols are beneficial natural compounds with antioxidant properties that have recently gain a lot of interest for their potential therapeutic applications. Marine polyphenols derived from marine macroalgae have been discovered to possess interesting antioxidant properties; therefore, these compounds can be included in several areas of drug development. Authors have considered the use of polyphenol extracts from seaweeds as neuroprotective antioxidants in neurodegenerative diseases. Marine polyphenols may slow the progression and limit neuronal cell loss due to their antioxidant activity; therefore, the use of these natural compounds would improve the quality of life for patients affected with neurodegenerative diseases. Marine polyphenols have distinct characteristics and potential. Among seaweeds, brown algae are the main sources of polyphenols, and present the highest antioxidant activity in comparison to red algae and green algae. The present paper collects the most recent in vitro and in vivo evidence from investigations regarding polyphenols extracted from seaweeds that exhibit neuroprotective antioxidant activity. Throughout the review, oxidative stress in neurodegeneration and the mechanism of action of marine polyphenol antioxidant activity are discussed to evidence the potential of algal polyphenols for future use in drug development to delay cell loss in patients with neurodegenerative disorders.

Seaweed Phenolics as Natural Antioxidants, Aquafeed Additives, Veterinary Treatments and Cross-Linkers for Microencapsulation

Driven by consumer demand and government policies, synthetic additives in aquafeed require substitution with sustainable and natural alternatives. Seaweeds have been shown to be a sustainable marine source of novel bioactive phenolic compounds that can be used in food, animal and aqua feeds, or microencapsulation applications. For example, phlorotannins are a structurally unique polymeric phenolic group exclusively found in brown seaweed that act through multiple antioxidant mechanisms. Seaweed phenolics show high affinities for binding proteins via covalent and non-covalent bonds and can have specific bioactivities due to their structures and associated physicochemical properties. Their ability to act as protein cross-linkers means they can be used to enhance the rheological and mechanical properties of food-grade delivery systems, such as microencapsulation, which is a new area of investigation illustrating the versatility of seaweed phenolics. Here we review how seaweed phenolics can be used in a range of applications, with reference to their bioactivity and structural properties.

Polyphenols from Brown Seaweeds (Ochrophyta, Phaeophyceae): Phlorotannins in the Pursuit of Natural Alternatives to Tackle Neurodegeneration

Globally, the burden of neurodegenerative disorders continues to rise, and their multifactorial etiology has been regarded as among the most challenging medical issues. Bioprospecting for seaweed-derived multimodal acting products has earned increasing attention in the fight against neurodegenerative conditions. Phlorotannins (phloroglucinol-based polyphenols exclusively produced by brown seaweeds) are amongst the most promising nature-sourced compounds in terms of functionality, and though research on their neuroprotective properties is still in its infancy, phlorotannins have been found to modulate intricate events within the neuronal network. This review comprehensively covers the available literature on the neuroprotective potential of both isolated phlorotannins and phlorotannin-rich extracts/fractions, highlighting the main key findings and pointing to some potential directions for neuro research ramp-up processes on these marine-derived products.