Abstract

BIOPOTENTIAL EFFECTS OF SEAWEEDS FOR NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS MINI REVIEW

R. Rajeswari* and K. Jeyaprakash

ABSTRACT

Marine algae and seaweeds are being used as food and medicinal source. They have bioactive compounds that have the potential anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities. Selective loss of neurons and Glial cells deposited in physio-chemically altered proteins leads to the neurodegenerative disorders. South-east Asian countries has used several kinds of seaweeds for different centuries for treating different diseases and as food. Laminaria and Sargassum species have been used for cancer treatments. Now, treatment of breast cancer and HIV using seaweed extract are under research. New drug molecules against pathogens causing infections can be found in the extracts of seaweeds. The active metabolites from seaweeds have been used against diabetes, cancer, and infectious diseases. Many research showed that the seaweed extract has composition and compounds similar to human blood plasma. Antioxidant activity has been found in seaweeds were comparable with butylated hydroxyl tolune and greater than propylgallate. Ulva sps have both antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The low occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases in the East Asia is related to their high fish and marine algae consumption. Two sterols and eight phlorotanins isolated from Ecklonia stolonifera showed considerable inhibitory activity on AChE. Marine algae and their metabolites show effective cytotoxicity. The extracts were found to inhibit the cancer cells without affecting the normal cells. Synthetic neuroprotective disorders are believed to have side effects. The numerous metabolites from marine algae with neuroprotective activity can be used in future drugs for neurodegenerative diseases.

Keywords: Seaweeds, Neurodegenerative diseases, Biopotential effects.