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A special issue of Marine Drugs (ISSN 1660-3397). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine-Derived Ingredients for Drugs, Cosmeceuticals and Nutraceuticals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2024) | Viewed by 16743

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Dr. Maria Dolores Torres

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Guest Editor

Department of Chemical Engineering, Science Faculty (Campus Ourense), Universidade de Vigo, As Lagoas, 32004 Ourense, Spain
Interests: biopolymers; rheology; biorrefinery; hydrogels; bioactive s; seaweeds; green extraction

Dr. Noelia Flórez-Fernández

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Guest Editor

Department of Chemical Engineering, Science Faculty (Campus Ourense), Universidade de Vigo, As Lagoas, 32004 Ourense, Spain
Interests: seaweeds; green extraction; bioactive compounds; nanoparticles; microparticles; antitumoral; antioxidant
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The extraction of bioactive compounds from marine sources is gaining attention in different areas. These bioactive compounds could be obtained from different brown, red and brown sources of macroalgae. In this context, strategies are required which use the novel eco-friendly extraction, fractioning and purification technologies to recover bioactive compounds. The structure, bioactive and biological properties are important to the processing, manufacturing and final application of the bioactive compounds. The development of new applications is also an objective of this study.

This Special Issue aims to provide an overview of recent research advances in green extraction for obtaining marine bioactive products that find an application in fields ranging from food to non-food sectors. As Guest Editors, we cordially invite contributions in the form of original research articles or reviews on this subject.

Dr. Maria Dolores Torres
Dr. Noelia Flórez-Fernández
Guest Editors

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Keywords

green extraction
bioactives
macroalgaes
biorefinery
antioxidants
biopolymers
biomedical
cosmetic
encapsulates
hydrogels

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1106 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Alginate from Fucus vesiculosus Seaweed By-Product Post-Fucoidan Extraction

by Viruja Ummat, Ming Zhao, Saravana Periaswamy Sivagnanam, Shanmugapriya Karuppusamy, Henry Lyons, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Shaba Noore, Dilip K. Rai, Laura G. Gómez-Mascaraque, Colm O’Donnell, Anet Režek Jambark and Brijesh Kumar Tiwari

Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(11), 516; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22110516 - 14 Nov 2024

Viewed by 670

Abstract

The solid phase byproduct obtained after conventional fucoidan extraction from the brown seaweed Fucus vesiculosus can be used as a source containing alginate. This study involves ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of alginate from the byproduct using sodium bicarbonate. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to obtain the optimum conditions for alginate extraction. The ultrasound (US) treatments included 20 kHz of frequency, 20–91% of amplitude, and an extraction time of 6–34 min. The studied investigated the crude alginate yield (%), molecular weight, and alginate content (%) of the extracts. The optimum conditions for obtaining alginate with low molecular weight were found to be 69% US amplitude and sonication time of 30 min. The alginate extracts obtained were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Ultrasound-assisted extraction involving a short treatment lasting 6–34 min was found to be effective in extracting alginate from the byproduct compared to the conventional extraction of alginate using stirring at 415 rpm and 60 °C for 24 h. The US treatments did not adversely impact the alginate obtained, and the extracted alginates were found to have similar characteristics to the alginate obtained from conventional extraction and commercial sodium alginate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Extraction for Obtaining Marine Bioactive Products)

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15 pages, 3804 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Elimination of Ethanol for the Production of Fucoidans from Brown Seaweeds: Characterization and Bioactivities

by Periaswamy Sivagnanam Saravana, Shanmugapriya Karuppusamy, Dilip K. Rai, Janith Wanigasekara, James Curtin and Brijesh K. Tiwari

Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(11), 493; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22110493 - 31 Oct 2024

Viewed by 793

Abstract

Fucoidan, a sulphated polysaccharide from brown seaweed composed of several monosaccharides, has been stated to have several bioactive properties such as antioxidant, antiviral, anticancer, antithrombic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. This paper provides research findings on green extraction methods, structural analysis of fucoidan, and its associated bioactivities. Fucoidans from brown seaweeds, Fucus vesiculosus and Ascophyllum nodosum, were extracted using green solvents such as citric acid (CA) followed by MWCO (molecular weight cut-off) filtration to obtain high-purity polysaccharides. The presence of functional groups typical to fucoidans, namely, fucose, sulfate, and glycosidic bonds, in the extracts were confirmed through the data obtained from FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy), TGA (thermogravimetric analysis), DSC (differential scanning calorimetry), and solid-state CP–MAS (cross-polarization magic angle spinning) analysis. The MWCO analysis identified that the >300 kDa fraction can have better content of fucoidan (FV-CA 79.16%, FV-HCl 63.59%, AN-CA 79.21%, AN-HCl 80.70%) than the conventional extraction process. Furthermore, the >300 kDa fraction showed significantly higher antioxidant activities compared to crude fucoidan extracts. Crude fucoidan extracts showed significant inhibition of cell viability in human lung (A459 lung carcinoma cells) and colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells at higher concentrations. The fucoidan extracted with green solvents and avoiding alcohol-based precipitation has substantial antioxidant/antitumor action, so, due to this activity, it can be employed as functional foods in food applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Extraction for Obtaining Marine Bioactive Products)

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17 pages, 2115 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Extraction of Omega-3 Fatty Acids from Atlantic Sea Cucumber (Cucumaria frondosa) Viscera Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

by Jianan Lin, Guangling Jiao, Marianne Su-Ling Brooks, Suzanne M. Budge and Azadeh Kermanshahi-pour

Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(8), 366; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22080366 - 12 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1180

Abstract

This study explores the potential of Cucumaria frondosa (C. frondosa) viscera as a natural source of omega-3 FAs using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) extraction. The extraction conditions were optimized using a response surface design, and the optimal parameters were identified as 75 °C and 45 MPa, with a 20 min static and a 30 min dynamic extraction, and a 2:1 ethanol to feedstock mass ratio. Under these conditions, the scCO₂ extraction yielded higher FAs than the solvent-based Bligh and Dyer method. The comparative analysis demonstrated that scCO₂ extraction (16.30 g of FAs/100 g of dried samples) yielded more fatty acids than the conventional Bligh and Dyer method (9.02 g, or 13.59 g of FAs/100 g of dried samples with ultrasonic assistance), indicating that scCO₂ extraction is a viable, green alternative to traditional solvent-based techniques for recovering fatty acids. The pre-treatment effects, including drying methods and ethanol-soaking, were investigated. Freeze-drying significantly enhanced FA yields to almost 100% recovery, while ethanol-soaked viscera tripled the FA yields compared to fresh samples, achieving similar EPA and DHA levels to hot-air-dried samples. These findings highlight the potential of sea cucumber viscera as an efficient source of omega-3 FA extraction and offer an alternative to traditional extraction procedures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Extraction for Obtaining Marine Bioactive Products)

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20 pages, 20332 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Comparative Analysis on Impact of Extraction Methods on Carotenoids Composition, Antioxidants, Antidiabetes, and Antiobesity Properties in Seagrass Enhalus acoroides: In Silico and In Vitro Study

by Raymond Rubianto Tjandrawinata and Fahrul Nurkolis

Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(8), 365; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22080365 - 12 Aug 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1551

Abstract

Enhalus acoroides, a tropical seagrass, is known for its significant contribution to marine ecosystems and its potential health benefits due to bioactive compounds. This study aims to compare the carotenoid levels in E. acoroides using green extraction via ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and to evaluate the biological properties of these extracts against oxidative stress, diabetes, and obesity through in silico and in vitro analyses. E. acoroides samples were collected from Manado City, Indonesia, and subjected to UAE and MAE. The extracts were analyzed using UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS to identify carotenoids, including β-carotene, lutein, lycopene, β-cryptoxanthin, and zeaxanthin. In silico analysis was conducted to predict the compounds’ bioactivity, toxicity, and drug-likeness using WAY2DRUG PASS and molecular docking with CB-Dock2. The compounds C3, C4, and C7 demonstrated notable interactions, with key metabolic proteins and microRNAs, further validating their potential therapeutic benefits. In vitro assays evaluated antioxidant activities using DPPH and FRAP assays, antidiabetic properties through α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition, and antiobesity effects via lipase inhibition and MTT assay with 3T3-L1 cells. Results indicated that both UAE and MAE extracts exhibited significant antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antiobesity activities. MAE extracts showed higher carotenoid content and greater biological activity compared to UAE extracts. These findings suggest that E. acoroides, mainly when extracted using MAE, has promising potential as a source of natural bioactive compounds for developing marine-based antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antiobesity agents. This study supplements existing literature by providing insights into the efficient extraction methods and the therapeutic potential of E. acoroides carotenoids. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Extraction for Obtaining Marine Bioactive Products)

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21 pages, 666 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Subcritical Water Extraction of Undaria pinnatifida: Comparative Study of the Chemical Properties and Biological Activities across Different Parts

by Jin-Seok Park, Ji-Min Han, Sin-Won Park, Jang-Woo Kim, Min-Seo Choi, Sang-Min Lee, Monjurul Haq, Wei Zhang and Byung-Soo Chun

Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(8), 344; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22080344 - 27 Jul 2024

Viewed by 1144

Abstract

The subcritical water extraction of Undaria pinnatifida (blade, sporophyll, and root) was evaluated to determine its chemical properties and biological activities. The extraction was conducted at 180 °C and 3 MPa. Root extracts exhibited the highest phenolic content (43.32 ± 0.19 mg phloroglucinol/g) and flavonoid content (31.54 ± 1.63 mg quercetin/g). Sporophyll extracts had the highest total sugar, reducing sugar, and protein content, with 97.35 ± 4.23 mg glucose/g, 56.44 ± 3.10 mg glucose/g, and 84.93 ± 2.82 mg bovine serum albumin (BSA)/g, respectively. The sporophyll contained the highest fucose (41.99%) and mannose (10.37%), whereas the blade had the highest galactose (48.57%) and glucose (17.27%) content. Sporophyll had the highest sulfate content (7.76%). Key compounds included sorbitol, glycerol, L-fucose, and palmitic acid. Root extracts contained the highest antioxidant activity, with IC₅₀ values of 1.51 mg/mL (DPPH), 3.31 mg/mL (ABTS⁺), and 2.23 mg/mL (FRAP). The root extract exhibited significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ of 5.07 mg/mL, indicating strong antidiabetic potential. The blade extract showed notable antihypertensive activity with an IC₅₀ of 0.62 mg/mL. Hence, subcritical water extraction to obtain bioactive compounds from U. pinnatifida, supporting their use in functional foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals is highlighted. This study uniquely demonstrates the variation in bioactive compound composition and bioactivities across different parts of U. pinnatifida, providing deeper insights. Significant correlations between chemical properties and biological activities emphasize the use of U. pinnatifida extracts for chronic conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Extraction for Obtaining Marine Bioactive Products)

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16 pages, 3436 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enzyme-Assisted Coextraction of Phenolics and Polysaccharides from Padina gymnospora

by Hoang Chinh Nguyen, Kim Ngan Ngo, Hoai Khang Tran and Colin J. Barrow

Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(1), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22010042 - 12 Jan 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2233

Abstract

Brown seaweed is a promising source of polysaccharides and phenolics with industrial utility. This work reports the development of a green enzyme-assisted extraction method for simultaneously extracting polysaccharides and phenolics from the brown seaweed Padina gymnospora. Different enzymes (Cellulast, Pectinex, and Alcalase), individually and in combination, were investigated, with Alcalase alone showing the highest efficiency for the simultaneous extraction of polysaccharides and phenolics. Yields from Alcalase-assisted aqueous extraction were higher than those obtained using either water alone or conventional ethanol extraction. Alcalase-assisted extraction was subsequently optimized using a response surface methodology to maximize compound recovery. Maximal polysaccharide and phenolic recovery was obtained under the following extraction conditions: a water-to-sample ratio of 61.31 mL/g, enzyme loading of 0.32%, temperature of 60.5 °C, and extraction time of 1.95 h. The extract was then fractionated to obtain alginate-, fucoidan-, and phenolic-rich fractions. Fractions exhibited potent 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity with IC₅₀ values of 140.55 µg/mL, 126.21 µg/mL, and 48.17 µg/mL, respectively, which were higher than those obtained from conventional extraction methods. The current work shows that bioactive polysaccharides and phenolics can be obtained together in high yield through a single aqueous-only green and efficient Alcalase-assisted extraction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Extraction for Obtaining Marine Bioactive Products)

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17 pages, 3219 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of the Antiproliferative Activity of Sargassum muticum Low and High Molecular Weight Polysaccharide Fractions

by Lara Diego-González, Milena Álvarez-Viñas, Rosana Simón-Vázquez, Herminia Domínguez, Maria Dolores Torres and Noelia Flórez-Fernández

Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22010016 - 27 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2390

Abstract

The extract obtained by pressurized hot water extraction from Sargassum muticum, to recover the bioactive compound known as fucoidan, was fractionated using membranes of 100, 50, 30, 10, and 5 kDa, obtaining five retentates and the final permeate. These fractions were characterized for phloroglucinol content, protein content, sulfate content, and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC); apart from oligosaccharides, FTIR and molar mass distribution were also evaluated. Retentates of 100 and 50 kDa showed higher values for phloroglucinol, TEAC, and sulfate content. The rheology of the alginate fraction was also evaluated. Regarding the potential antitumoral activity, all fractions were assessed in MCF-7 cells using a metabolic activity assay based on the reduction of a tetrazolium compound, the most efficient being R100 and R50. Based on the results, these fractions were compared with commercial fucoidans at the same concentrations, and similar results were found. In addition, synergistic cytotoxic effects using two drugs commonly used in breast cancer, cis-Platinum (cis-Pt) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), were tested in combination with R100 and R50. Promising results were obtained when the retentate and the drugs were mixed, showing an improvement in the cytotoxicity induced by the chemotherapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Extraction for Obtaining Marine Bioactive Products)

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16 pages, 815 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bioactivity of Fucoidan-Rich Extracts from Fucus vesiculosus against Rotavirus and Foodborne Pathogens

by Dimitra Graikini, Arturo B. Soro, Saravana P. Sivagnanam, Brijesh K. Tiwari and Lourdes Sánchez

Mar. Drugs 2023, 21(9), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/md21090478 - 30 Aug 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2296

Abstract

Marine algae are sources of bioactive components with defensive properties of great value against microbial infections. This study investigated the bioactivity of extracts from brown algae Fucus vesiculosus against rotavirus, the worldwide leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in infants and young children. Moreover, one of the extracts was tested against four foodborne bacteria: Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes, and the non-pathogenic: E. coli K12. In vitro tests using MA104 cells revealed that both whole algae extracts and crude fucoidan precipitates neutralized rotavirus in a dose-responsive manner. The maximum neutralization activity was observed when the rotavirus was incubated with 100 μg mL⁻¹ of the hydrochloric acid-obtained crude fucoidan (91.8%), although crude fucoidan extracted using citric acid also demonstrated high values (89.5%) at the same concentration. Furthermore, molecular weight fractionation of extracts decreased their antirotaviral activity and high molecular weight fractions exhibited higher activity compared to those of lower molecular weight. A seaweed extract with high antirotaviral activity was also found to inhibit the growth of C. jejuni, S. Typhimurium, and L. monocytogenes at a concentration of 0.2 mg mL⁻¹. Overall, this study expands the current knowledge regarding the antimicrobial mechanisms of action of extracts from F. vesiculosus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Extraction for Obtaining Marine Bioactive Products)

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17 pages, 4268 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tuning the Bioactive Properties of Dunaliella salina Water Extracts by Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction

by Joana P. A. Ferreira, Madalena Grácio, Isabel Sousa, António Pagarete, M. Cristiana Nunes and Anabela Raymundo

Mar. Drugs 2023, 21(9), 472; https://doi.org/10.3390/md21090472 - 27 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2241

Abstract

(1) Background: Microalgae are promising feedstock for obtaining valuable bioactive compounds. To facilitate the release of these important biomolecules from microalgae, effective cell disruption is usually necessary, where the use of ultrasound has achieved considerable popularity as an alternative to conventional methods. (2) Methods: This paper aims to evaluate the use of ultrasound technology in water medium as a green technology to recover high added-value compounds from Dunaliella salina and improve its sensory profile towards a high level of incorporation into novel food products. (3) Results: Among the variables, the solid concentration and extraction time have the most significant impact on the process. For the extraction of protein, or fat, the most influential factor is the extraction time. Total polyphenols are only significantly affected by the extraction time. The antioxidant capacity is strongly affected by the solid to liquid ratio and, to a small extent, by the extraction time. Ultrasound-assisted extraction improves the overall odor/aroma of D. salina with good acceptability by the panelists. (4) Conclusions: The application of ultrasonic-assisted extraction demonstrates a positive overall effect on enhancing the sensory profile, particularly the odor of microalgal biomass, while the bioactive properties are preserved. Notably, the intense sea/fish odors are reduced, while earthy and citrus notes become more prominent, resulting in an improved overall sensory profile score. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that this innovative, green, and efficient technology has been used to upgrade the aroma profile of microalgae. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Extraction for Obtaining Marine Bioactive Products)

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