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The Extraction and Application of Functional Components in Algae

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A special issue of Marine Drugs (ISSN 1660-3397). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine-Derived Ingredients for Drugs, Cosmeceuticals and Nutraceuticals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2025) | Viewed by 17940

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Dr. Aurora Silva

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REQUIMTE/LAQV-ISEP, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Porto, Portugal
Interests: algae; natural products; bioactivities; antimicrobial tests
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Dr. Miguel Ángel Prieto Lage

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Nutrition and Bromatology Group, Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Science, Faculty of Science, University of Vigo, E-32004 Ourense, Spain
Interests: algae; food chemistry; food technology; bioactive compounds; analytical techniques; natural food products; natural cosmetics; emergent technologies; green processes; sustainability; bioinformatics; chemical engineering; synergy; antagonism; natural and synthetic antioxidants; mathematical modeling; biological responses; toxicology
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Dr. Clara Grosso

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REQUIMTE, LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia Do Porto, Instituto Politécnico Do Porto, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
Interests: medicinal and aromatic plants; seaweeds; secondary metabolites; bioactivities; green extraction processes; nanotechnology
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Dr. Maria Fátima Sá Barroso

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REQUIMTE–LAQV, School of Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Interests: food; analytical chemistry; by-products; antioxidants
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Algae, with their different species and biochemical compositions, provide a rich source of functional components such as polysaccharides, polyphenols, pigments, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. These components exhibit a spectrum of bioactivities, ranging from antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to neuroprotective and antitumor effects. Yet, given the vast diversity of these metabolites and their wide distribution in seaweed, there is a need for updated knowledge on their extraction, characterization and study.

In this Special Issue, we intend to examine the complex processes involved in extracting functional components from algae, as well as their diverse applications. Original articles and reviews that explore innovative extraction techniques with a focus on optimized yields and/or bioactive potential, advanced analytical methods for the characterization and quantification of functional components extracted from algae and applications are welcome.

Dr. Aurora Silva
Dr. Miguel Ángel Prieto Lage
Dr. Clara Grosso
Dr. Maria Fátima Sá Barroso
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Marine Drugs is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

algae functional components
extraction of bioactive molecules
health benefits
nutraceuticals
applications (food, pharmaceutical, wellness and care, etc.)

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Related Special Issue

Functional Components from Algae: Extraction, Characterization and Applications in Marine Drugs (1 article)

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27 pages, 3030 KB

Open AccessArticle

Structural Characterization and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of an Alginate Extracted from the Brown Seaweed Ericaria amentacea

by Maha Moussa, Serena Mirata, Lisa Moni, Valentina Asnaghi, Marina Alloisio, Simone Pettineo, Maila Castellano, Silvia Vicini, Mariachiara Chiantore and Sonia Scarfì

Mar. Drugs 2026, 24(1), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/md24010041 - 13 Jan 2026

Viewed by 1040

Abstract

Brown algae of the Cystoseira genus are recognized as valuable sources of bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides. Within the framework of current restoration efforts regarding damaged Ericaria amentacea populations in the Mediterranean Sea, the valorization of apices derived from ex situ cultivation waste represents a sustainable opportunity for industrial and biomedical applications. In this study, sodium alginate (SA) was extracted from E. amentacea apex by-products using a hydrothermal–alkaline method and subsequently chemically characterized. FTIR analysis showed O-H, C-H, and COO- stretching compatible with commercial alginates, while 1H-NMR spectroscopy indicated high β-D-mannuronic acid content, with an M/G ratio of 2.33. The extracted SA displayed a molecular weight of 1 × 10⁴ g/mol and a polydispersity index of 3.5. The bioactive properties of the SA extract were investigated in chemico and in vitro. SA exhibited remarkable antioxidant activity, showing significant DPPH and nitric oxide-radical-scavenging capacity. Furthermore, SA demonstrated a strong anti-inflammatory effect in LPS-stimulated macrophages through modulation of several inflammatory mediators (i.e., IL-6, IL-8/CXCL5, MCP-1, and TNF-α). In particular, SA promoted a striking iNOS gene expression inhibition, which, paired with its direct NO-scavenging ability, paves the way for future pharmacological use of E. amentacea derivatives, particularly if sustainably obtained from restoration activity waste. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Extraction and Application of Functional Components in Algae)

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16 pages, 3377 KB

Open AccessArticle

Integrative Metabolomics, Pharmacoinformatics and Experimental Studies Reveal the Neuroprotective Potential of Caulerpa racemosa Metabolites Against Alzheimer’s Disease

by Nita Handayani, Dhecella Winy Cintya Ningrum, Adha Fauzi Hendrawan, Anis Yuniati, Raffaele Romano, Lucia De Luca, Antonello Santini and Fahrul Nurkolis

Mar. Drugs 2025, 23(12), 475; https://doi.org/10.3390/md23120475 - 11 Dec 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1141

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cholinergic dysfunction, oxidative/nitrosative stress, and neuroinflammation. Marine green algae Caulerpa racemosa are rich in neuroactive lipids and fatty acid derivatives with reported antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, their integrated mechanistic potential against AD remains largely underexplored. This study aimed to elucidate the neuroprotective mechanisms of C. racemosa metabolites against AD using integrative metabolomics, network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro validation assays. Untargeted LC–HRMS profiling was performed to identify major metabolites in the ethanolic extract of C. racemosa. Neuroprotective targets were predicted via TargetNet, STRING, and Cytoscape (MCODE, CytoNCA). Functional enrichment was conducted using KEGG, GO (BP, MF, CC), and ClueGO. Molecular docking (CB-Dock2) validated compound–target interactions with ACHE, CHRM1, NOS1, and NOS2. Antioxidant (DPPH) and cholinesterase (AChE/BChE) inhibitory activities were evaluated in vitro. Metabolomic profiling identified lipid-dominant metabolites—oleamide, hexadecanamide, palmitoyl ethanolamide, α-linolenic acid, α-eleostearic acid, and 9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid. Network analysis revealed key AD-related hubs (ACHE, CHRM1, NOS1, NOS2) enriched in cholinergic regulation, arachidonic-acid metabolism, oxidative stress response, and nitric oxide signaling. Docking showed moderate multi-target affinities (−6.0 to −8.4 kcal/mol), with α-linolenic acid, α-eleostearic acid, and oxidized C18 lipids exhibiting the strongest interactions—particularly with ACHE and NOS isoforms. In vitro assays showed moderate antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 120.97 ± 10.93 µg/mL) and cholinesterase inhibition (AChE IC₅₀ = 136.48 ± 1.70 µg/mL; BChE IC₅₀ = 145.98 ± 3.28 µg/mL), aligning with predicted multi-target interactions. C. racemosa extract exhibits neuroprotective potential through a synergistic combination of cholinergic modulation, antioxidant activity, NOS-mediated nitrosative stress reduction, and suppression of arachidonic-acid inflammatory pathways. These findings support C. racemosa as a promising marine-derived multi-target candidate for AD intervention, warranting further mechanistic and in vivo evaluation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Extraction and Application of Functional Components in Algae)

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21 pages, 3337 KB

Open AccessArticle

A New Algal Friendly Extract from Euglena cantabrica with Potential Applications in Biomedical Field

by Silvia Buonvino, Carolina Trinca, Stefan Leu, Silvia Licoccia and Sonia Melino

Mar. Drugs 2025, 23(12), 453; https://doi.org/10.3390/md23120453 - 26 Nov 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1155

Abstract

Microalgae, such as Euglena cantabrica, are rich in secondary metabolites, including polyphenols, which are valued for their antioxidant and therapeutic properties. Here a rapid, cost-effective and efficient protocol using a trichloroacetic acid (TCA) solution was developed for the production of an extract from E. cantabrica (EuPoly). The potential environmental and biomedical applications of this new extract were evaluated. The effects of EuPoly extract were tested on normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) and on breast cancer cells of the triple-negative MDA-MB-231 cell line. EuPoly was able to increase the NHDFs survival in oxidative -stress conditions and, on the contrary, to induce a decrease in cell viability of the breast cancer cells. EuPoly was also used to functionalize frustules (FEuPoly), mesoporous silica structures from diatoms. FEuPoly were investigated for the complexation of Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺, as new potential tools for metal-ion decontamination. Finally, the scaffolding properties of FEuPoly were here assessed in the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) growth and their osteo-differentiation. This study provides new insights into the sustainable valorization of algae extracts, showing that TCA E. cantabrica extract and functionalized frustules may serve as multifunctional, eco-friendly resources for biomedical applications, as antioxidants and cancer cell inhibitor, metal ions-trapping and tissue osteo-repair. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Extraction and Application of Functional Components in Algae)

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17 pages, 2405 KB

Open AccessArticle

Botryocladia leptopoda Extracts Promote Wound Healing Ability via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities and Regulation of MMP/TIMP Expression

by Shin-Ping Lin, Tsung-Kai Yi, Yi-Feng Kao, Ming-Chieh Tu, Chen-Che Hsieh, Yu-Chieh Chou, Jheng-Jhe Lu, Shella Permatasari Santoso, Huey-Jine Chai and Kuan-Chen Cheng

Mar. Drugs 2025, 23(11), 444; https://doi.org/10.3390/md23110444 - 19 Nov 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1024

Abstract

Wound healing is a complex process involving coordinated actions of multiple cell types. Therefore, when developing therapeutics to promote wound healing, it is essential to consider the synergistic contributions of various cells at different stages of the healing process. In this study, we evaluated the potential of different extracts of Botryocladia leptopoda as wound-healing agents by examining their effects on antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity, cell migration, anti-inflammatory properties, and expressions of specific biomarkers associated with wound healing. Results indicated that the ethanol extract (FE) and hexane extract (HE) exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity, reaching up to 94%. The alkaline extract (AE) showed the strongest antioxidant ability in the FICA assay, with a maximum of 99%. In addition, the FE and AE provided anti-inflammatory actions that inhibited tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells. Further analyses suggested that the FE and AE enhanced cell proliferation (210% and 112%) and migration (442.2% and 535.6%) and regulated wound healing-related genes, including matrix metalloproteinase 2, MMP9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP2) to avoid scar formation and accelerate wound healing. Lastly, the identification of potential compounds within the extract using the UHPLC system further supports its prospective medical applications. Taken together, these findings indicated that the FE and AE from B. leptopoda exhibited remarkable in vitro wound-healing properties, highlighting their potential for applications in pharmaceutical industries and health food development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Extraction and Application of Functional Components in Algae)

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19 pages, 2858 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Evaluation of Dynamic Maceration and Ultrasonic Assisted Extraction of Fucoidan from Four Arctic Brown Algae on Its Antioxidant and Anticancer Properties

by Ekaterina D. Obluchinskaya, Olga N. Pozharitskaya, Irina M. Lapina, Anna A. Kulminskaya, Elena V. Zhurishkina and Alexander N. Shikov

Mar. Drugs 2025, 23(6), 230; https://doi.org/10.3390/md23060230 - 28 May 2025

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3328

Abstract

The technology of fucoidan extraction significantly affects its properties. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of dynamic maceration (DM) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) on the antioxidant and anticancer properties of fucoidan from Arctic brown algae. Fucus vesiculosus (Fv), Fucus serratus (Fs), Fucus distichus (Fd), and Ascophyllum nodosum (An) were collected from the Barents Sea. The average yield of fucoidan and uronic acid was higher (by 43.2% and 22.0%, respectively) after UAE, while phlorotannin content decreased by 53.7% compared with DM. The fucose level for all algae increased after UAE, while the molecular weight of fucoidans was lower. The highest antioxidant activity was noted for the fucoidan from An and Fv, which were obtained by DM and can be associated with the high concentrations of phlorotannins. The treatment of HeLa G-63 cells with all studied fucoidans for 48 h increased concentration-dependently the number of dead cells. The most promising were Fv and Fs fucoidans with high phlorotannins, low sulfates, and uronic acid extracted by DM. The co-administration of paclitaxel and fucoidan caused cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. The calculated for the first time combinatory effect showed that the simultaneous use of paclitaxel and fucoidan exposure leads to a synergistic interaction. Our results support the rationality of fucoidan use in complex chemotherapy to improve survival, quality of life and immunity in patients with cervical carcinoma. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Extraction and Application of Functional Components in Algae)

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21 pages, 2503 KB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of Nanoencapsulation of Codium tomentosum Extract and Its Potential Application in Yogurt Fortification

by Micaela Costa, Cristina Soares, Aurora Silva, Maria Fátima Barroso, Pedro Simões, Mariana Ferreira, Paula Gameiro, Clara Grosso and Cristina Delerue-Matos

Mar. Drugs 2025, 23(4), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/md23040147 - 28 Mar 2025

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1936

Abstract

Marine macroalgae are excellent sources of bioactive compounds recognized by their pharmaceutical and biomedical potential. A subcritical water extraction (SWE) was applied to the macroalga Codium tomentosum, and the extract was used to prepare phytosomes. A Box–Behnken design was applied to optimize the entrapment efficiency. These phytosomes were further modified with DSPE-PEG (2000)-maleimide and apolipoprotein E and characterized by dynamic light scattering, UV spectrophotometry, octanol/water partition coefficient, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. As proof of concept, prototypes of functional food tailored to the elderly were produced. Yogurts were fortified with seaweed extract or phytosomes, and physicochemical properties and proximal composition (pH, acidity, syneresis, moisture, peroxides, proteins, total lipids, sugar content, ash, and mineral composition) were analyzed. The antioxidant and the inhibition capacity of two brain enzymes, cholinesterases (AChE and BuChE), involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, were also evaluated in the final prototypes. Despite their unappealing sensory characteristics, the results are promising for integrating marine extracts with potential neuroprotective effects into functional foods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Extraction and Application of Functional Components in Algae)

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23 pages, 1810 KB

Open AccessArticle

Wound Healing, Antioxidant, and Antiviral Properties of Bioactive Polysaccharides of Microalgae Strains Isolated from Greek Coastal Lagoons

by Gabriel Vasilakis, Sofia Marka, Alexandros Ntzouvaras, Maria-Eleftheria Zografaki, Eirini Kyriakopoulou, Katerina I. Kalliampakou, Georgios Bekiaris, Evangelos Korakidis, Niki Papageorgiou, Stefania Christofi, Niki Vassilaki, Georgia Moschopoulou, Ioannis Tzovenis, Athena Economou-Amilli, Seraphim Papanikolaou and Emmanouil Flemetakis

Mar. Drugs 2025, 23(2), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/md23020077 - 10 Feb 2025

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4162

Abstract

Microalgae have gained significant attention as sustainable sources of high value compounds, such as bioactive polysaccharides that are usually rich in sulfated groups and exhibit antioxidant properties. Here, 14 new microalgae strains of the genera Tetraselmis, Dunaliella, and Nannochloropsis, isolated from Greek coastal lagoons were analyzed to quantify and characterize their polysaccharide content. Heterogeneity was observed regarding the content of their total sugars (5.5–40.9 g/100 g dry biomass). The strains with a total sugar content above 20% were analyzed concerning the content of total, α- and β-glucans. Tetraselmis verrucosa f. rubens PLA1-2 and T. suecica T3-1 were rich in β-glucans (11%, and 8.1%, respectively). The polysaccharides of the two Tetraselmis strains were isolated and they were mainly composed of glucose and galactose. The isolated polysaccharides were fractionated using ion-exchange-chromatography. The anionic fraction from T. verrucosa f. rubens PLA1-2 was rich in sulfated polysaccharides, had antioxidant capacity, and exhibited healing properties. The anionic polysaccharides from the two Tetraselmis strains did not negatively influence the viability of human cells, while exhibiting antiviral properties against the replication of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), with median efficient concentrations (EC50) at a range of 210–258 μg/mL. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Extraction and Application of Functional Components in Algae)

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20 pages, 1301 KB

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New Green Biorefinery Strategies to Valorize Bioactive Fractions from Palmaria palmata

by Melis Cokdinleyen, Gloria Domínguez-Rodríguez, Huseyin Kara, Elena Ibáñez and Alejandro Cifuentes

Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(10), 467; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22100467 - 11 Oct 2024

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2906

Abstract

A biorefinery process was developed to isolate phycobiliproteins, sulfated polysaccharides, and phenolic compounds from Palmaria palmata. The extraction process was carried out in three stages using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) integrated with different natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDESs). In general, PLE provided higher phycobiliprotein contents than UAE in the first step of the process. In fact, the hydrolysis product of the PLE-NaDES extracts achieved a higher antioxidant capacity than that of the UAE-NaDES extracts. Particularly, glycerol:glucose (2:1) with 50% water in combination with PLE was the most suitable NaDES to recover the highest phycobiliprotein, protein, and sulfated polysaccharide contents from Palmaria palmata in the first and second steps of the biorefinery process. Finally, a PLE-NaDES using choline chloride:glycerol (1:2) with 60% water as the NaDES was employed for the recovery of antioxidant and neuroprotective phenolic compounds from the residue of the second step, obtaining a higher total phenolic content than employing PLE with ethanol/water (70:30, v/v) as the extraction solvent. Moreover, a forced stability study revealed that the NaDESs provided a protective effect compared to the water extracts against the degradation of phycobiliproteins, preserving their color over time. This study contributes to the recovery of high-value components from an undervalued biomarine source through a sustainable biorefinery process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Extraction and Application of Functional Components in Algae)

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