Algae as a Source of Antioxidants
French researchers have enlightened the mechanism of production of antioxidants in brown algae.
Marine brown algae have unique aromatic chemical compounds (phenolics) in the plant world, called phlorotannins. Because of their role as natural antioxidants, these compounds are of great interest to scientists for the prevention and treatment of cancer, inflammatory, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.
Still with very little presence in our food, algae contain antioxidants, trace elements, dietary fiber … You can enjoy them fresh, but at the supermarkets, they are also sold in the form of flakes to be rehydrated in salads and soups . Algae are very healthy foods, being also a good source of protein.
Algae as a source of antioxidants, are particularly useful for health. In an article published in Plant Cell, French researchers explain the mechanism of production of antioxidants in brown algae.
In this study, the researchers at the station of Roscoff and the Marine Science Lab of Brest have updated the mechanism of production of antioxidants in algae. To do this, they used a model species, Ectocarpus siliculosus, measuring only a few centimeters, this very fertile brown seaweed has a rapid life cycle and a small genome that make it a tool of choice for research.
Among the edible brown seaweed, you have the kelp, hijiki,the Sargassum, sweet laminar or spaghetti sea algae contain phlorotannins, powerful antioxidants for the treatment and prevention of cancer, cardiovascular, inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.
By studying the genome of the brown algae, the French team identified genes equivalent to those involved in the synthesis of phenolic compounds from terrestrial plants. These genes were inserted into bacteria to produce large quantities of enzymes capable of producing phenolic compounds. One of these enzymes, the PKS III , was particularly studied and is able to produce phloroglucinol is an antispasmodic.
Revealing the mechanism by which the enzyme algae produces phenolic compounds, researchers pave the way for industrial applications. These results are the subject of a patent that could facilitate the production of phlorotannins, which are used by the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
However brown algae are not the only ones to produce antioxidants. Spirulina algae that is another form of dietary supplement, is one of the richest sources of antioxidants in the market.
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