What are the 3 main products derived from seaweed?
Various red and brown seaweeds are used to produce three hydrocolloids: agar, alginate and carrageenan. A hydrocolloid is a non-crystalline substance with very large molecules and which dissolves in water to give a thickened (viscous) solution.
Which chemical is obtained from seaweeds?
Brown seaweeds, fibers are mainly cellulose and insoluble alginates. These alginates are Ca, Mg, or Na salts of alginic acid (1,4-linked polymer of β-d-mannuronic acid and α-l-guluronic acid). In contrast, the amorphous, slimy fraction of fibers consists mainly of water-soluble alginates and/or fucoidan.
What are the bioactive compounds of algae?
Algae contain a vast array of biologically active compounds (polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFAs], vitamins [B group], carotenoids, polyphenols, dietary fiber, polysaccharides, proteins; natural plant growth compounds, such as auxins, gibberellins, and cytokinins [2, 20]) having a potential of industrial application ( …
What are some human uses of seaweed?
Seaweeds are used in many maritime countries as a source of food, for industrial applications and as a fertiliser. The present uses of seaweeds are as human foods, cosmetics, fertilisers, and for the extraction of industrial gums and chemicals.
What are the two main uses for these seaweeds?
The present uses of seaweeds at present are as human foods, cosmetics, fertilisers, and for the extraction of industrial gums and chemicals. They have the potential to be used as a source of long- and short-chain chemicals with medicinal and industrial uses.
What are the compounds extracted from seaweed for commercial use?
Seaweeds are a valuable source of polyphenolic compounds such as phlorotannins, bromophenols, flavonoids, phenolic terpenoids, and mycosporine-like amino acids.
What elements are in seaweed?
The primary mineral components in seaweeds are iodine, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, iron, sodium, potassium, and chlorine. Added to these are many important trace elements such as zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, molybdenum, and chromium.
In what way seaweeds become useful to medicine?
Because of the high nutrient content, seaweed has been used as a food throughout Asia. Traditional Chinese medicine used hot water extracts of certain seaweeds in the treatment of cancer. Additionally, the Japanese and Chinese cultures have used seaweeds to treat goiter and other glandular problems since 300 BC.
What are the commercial uses of seaweeds?
What products can you make from seaweed?
Seaweed Products to Sample
- Seaweed Butter. A compound butter that combines seaweed, cultured butter and sea salt, this is wonderful melted over boiled potatoes, stirred into pasta or rice, dolloped over roasted vegetables, chicken and especially seafood.
- Seaweed Tea.
- Seaweed Pasta.
- Kelp Salsa.
- Kelp Pickles.