Biotechnology and Bioinformatics (1+1)

5.1.5. Marine macroalgae

Of the total marine algae so far evaluated, about 25% showed one or the other biological activity.

• The metabolites of green algae were reported to contain 1,4 –diacetoxic butadiene moiety, which exhibited icthyotoxic property.
• Among the red algae, halogenated lipids have been isolated, particularly from the Laurencia sp.
• The rare chemical prostaglandin was also reported to occur in Gracilaria pichenoids.
• Ulva meal supplementation was found to provide disease resistance to red sea bream in Japan. Similar results were also reported from Japan on the use of Ulva meal supplementation towards disease resistance and high growth rate in black sea bream.
• The polysaccharide fractions from marine algae, Porphyra yezoensis was found to stimulate the in vivo and in vitro murine phagocytic function.
• The purified fractions gave stronger phagocytic activity. Some of the macro algal crude extracts indicated their potential therapeutic nature when challenged with potential pathogens among fish and shellfish.