Marine algae fucoxanthin

The principle problem of algae as sources of lipids is their high water (70-90%) and low lipid content. Despite their lipid content (-7%), the fatty acids of marine algae have aroused considerable interest among researchers for their nutritional value to other marine organisms, occurrence of bioactive conjugated fatty acids, and potential medical applications. The annual production of carotenoids from seaweeds is estimated to be approximately 100 million tons, of which fucoxanthin, the main carotenoids from brown seaweed, contributes more than 10% (Matsuno, 2001). 

Secondary metabolites derived from marine algae are known to have promising anti-inflammatory activities (Abad et al., 2008). However, the scientific analysis of anti-inflammatory activity of fucoxanthin has been poorly carried out, and until now, only few studies were reported. Fucoxanthin is recently known to be a potent anti-inflammatory agent in vitro and in vivo in responses to bacterial lipopolysaccharides (EPS). Shiratori et al. reported that anti-inflammatory effect of fucoxanthin is comparable with predinisolone, a commercially available steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (Shiratori et al., 2005). More recently, Heo et al. screened inhibitory... 

The end groups of acetylenic carotenoids like alloxanthin (8), found in algae and marine organisms, are structurally related to the end groups of fucoxanthin (9), the most abundant natural carotenoid . The allene and acetylene bonds are known to be biogenetically linked in polyacetylenes and the same seems likely to apply to... 

Biological Activities and Potential Health Benefits of Fucoxanthin Derived from Marine Brown Algae... 

TABLE 9.1 Potential health beneficial effects of marine brown algae-derived fucoxanthin... 

FIGURE 9.1 Chemical structures of fucoxanthin derived from marine brown algae. 

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