Alginates from Brown Seaweeds as a Promising Natural Source: A Review of Its Properties and Health Benefits

ABSTRACTAlginates, hydrophilic anionic polysaccharides with notable bioactivity and biocompatibility, have drawn significant attention, particularly due to their extensive use in the pharmaceutical industry and associated health benefits. Brown seaweeds serve as the primary source of alginates. However, extraction methods, especially traditional ones, face efficiency challenges, impacting the yield. Green extraction methods promise an eco-friendly alternative, but their industrial-scale implementation is still unproven. Importantly, these extraction methods could yield alginates of different molecular weights and consequent varied biological effects. Alginates possess antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and immunomodulatory properties, forming the cornerstone of their health benefits and pharmaceutical applications. The hydrogel formation characteristic of alginates is crucial for pharmaceutical applications, including drug delivery, wound dressing, and tissue regeneration. Despite the existence of numerous articles exploring the extraction methods, properties, and applications of alginates, a gap exists in the literature that connects these aspects with health benefits. This review aims to bridge this gap by providing a comprehensive discussion of the extraction methods, properties, health benefits, and pharmaceutical applications of alginates.KEYWORDS: Alginatesbrown seaweedshealth benefitspharmaceutical applicationsextraction methods AcknowledgmentsWe would like to thank “The Future Food Hallmark Research Initiative” at the University of Melbourne, Australia. We would like to thank the Honours/Master/PhD and Postdoc researchers of the Dr Hafiz Suleria group from the School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, the University of Melbourne for their incredible support.Disclosure statementThe author(s) declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.Additional informationFundingThe work was supported by the Australian Research Council [Discovery Early Career Award ARC-DECRA-DE220100055]; InnoVactiv Inc., Rimouski, QC, Canada [Project ID: 302611]; University of Melbourne [Collaborative Research Development Grant UoM-21/23].