Table 2.
Current commercial pharmaceutical products from Macrocystis pyrifera and Laminaria spp.
| Seaweed Types and Species | Compound of Interest | Product Produced | Function of Product | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. pyrifera | Phycocolloids/ medium or high viscosity alginate |
Sodium and calcium alginate | Wound dressings | [25,81] |
| M. pyrifera | Phycocolloids/ Alginate |
Alginic acid powder | Aid in relieving acid indigestion; treatment of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) disease | [25,61] |
| M. pyrifera | Phycocolloids/ Alginate |
Calcium alginate bead | Controlled release of medicinal drugs and other chemicals | [25,82] |
| Laminaria spp. | Phycocolloids/ Alginate: soft to medium strength gel |
Sodium and calcium alginate fibres | Wound dressings | [25,81] |
| Laminaria spp. | Phycocolloids/ Alginate |
Alginic acid powder | Aid in relieving acid indigestion; treatment of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) disease | [25,61] |
| Laminaria spp. | Phycocolloids/ Alginate |
Calcium alginate bead | Controlled release of medicinal drugs and other chemicals | [25,82] |
| L. digitata | Phycocolloids/ Alginate |
Sodium alginate | Soft and elastic gels; potential drug delivery via microparticles | [83] |
| M. pyrifera | Sulphated polysaccharides | Fucoidan | Immune modulator, causing delays in apoptosis and promoting pro-inflammatory cytokine production | [89] |
| Saccharina japonica | Sulphated polysaccharides | Fucoidan | Significant reduction in thrombus lysis time | [88] |
| Brown seaweeds (including L. digitata, Saccharina japonica; M. pyrifera) |
Sulphated polysaccharides | Fucoidan | Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and immunological activity; lipid inhibition; obesity prevention or treatment | [84,85,86,87] |
| Saccharina japonica | Secondary metabolite | Phlorotannin | Anti-proliferation of human tumour cells | [112] |
| L. hyperborea | Secondary metabolite | Phlorotannin | Wound sealing and reconstruction during wound healing | [113] |
| M. pyrifera | Secondary metabolite | Phlorotannin: phloroeckol, tetrameric phloroglucinol |
Antidiabetic; antioxidant activity; prevention of skin aging | [114] |
| L. digitata | crude polysaccharide-rich seaweed extract |
Crude extract and depolymerised extract | Improved gut microbiota composition; increase in short-chain fatty acids | [98] |
|
Fucus vesiculosus, M. pyrifera; Saccharina japonica, |
Seaweed extract: Maritech ®® extract |
Fucus vesiculosus 85%, w/w; M. pyrifera 10%, w/w; Saccharina japonica, 5%, w/w; zinc vitamin B6 and manganese) | Dose-dependent decrease in osteoarthritis in 5 females and 7 males |
[115,116] |
| M. pyrifera | Seaweed extract | High purity Fucoidan 75–90% purity; Kelp Oil and/or Kelp Concentrate: Krill oil | Total antioxidant protection | [99] |
| L. digitata | Seaweed Extract: L. digitata thallus prepared in glycerine and water. | Actipone®® | A moisturising agent and stimulant, skin protecting, soothing, and smoothing properties. | [100] |
| L. digitata | Seaweed Extract: 1 DH |
Boiron | Homeopathic medicine | [101] |