Abstract
Carbohydrates, also called saccharides, are molecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They are the most abundant biomolecules and essential components of many natural products and have attracted the attention of researchers because of their numerous human health benefits. Among carbohydrates the polysaccharides represent some of the most abundant bioactive substances in marine organisms. In fact, many marine macro- and microorganisms are good resources of carbohydrates with diverse applications due to their biofunctional properties. By acting on cell proliferation and cycle, and by modulating different metabolic pathways, marine polysaccharides (including mainly chitin, chitosan, fucoidan, carrageenan and alginate) also have numerous pharmaceutical activities, such as antioxidative, antibacterial, antiviral, immuno-stimulatory, anticoagulant and anticancer effects. Moreover, these polysaccharides have many general beneficial effects for human health, and have therefore been developed into potential cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals. In this review we describe current advances in the development of marine polysaccharides for nutraceutical, cosmeceutical and pharmacological applications. Research in this field is opening new doors for harnessing the potential of marine natural products.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Molecules |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Apr 27 2016 |
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Keywords
- cosmeceutics
- marine polysaccharides
- nutraceutics
- pharmaceutics
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
- Organic Chemistry
Cite this
Polysaccharides from the Marine Environment with Pharmacological, Cosmeceutical and Nutraceutical Potential. / Ruocco, Nadia; Costantini, Susan; Guariniello, Stefano; Costantini, Maria.
In: Molecules, Vol. 21, No. 5, 27.04.2016.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Polysaccharides from the Marine Environment with Pharmacological, Cosmeceutical and Nutraceutical Potential
AU - Ruocco, Nadia
AU - Costantini, Susan
AU - Guariniello, Stefano
AU - Costantini, Maria
PY - 2016/4/27
Y1 - 2016/4/27
N2 - Carbohydrates, also called saccharides, are molecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They are the most abundant biomolecules and essential components of many natural products and have attracted the attention of researchers because of their numerous human health benefits. Among carbohydrates the polysaccharides represent some of the most abundant bioactive substances in marine organisms. In fact, many marine macro- and microorganisms are good resources of carbohydrates with diverse applications due to their biofunctional properties. By acting on cell proliferation and cycle, and by modulating different metabolic pathways, marine polysaccharides (including mainly chitin, chitosan, fucoidan, carrageenan and alginate) also have numerous pharmaceutical activities, such as antioxidative, antibacterial, antiviral, immuno-stimulatory, anticoagulant and anticancer effects. Moreover, these polysaccharides have many general beneficial effects for human health, and have therefore been developed into potential cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals. In this review we describe current advances in the development of marine polysaccharides for nutraceutical, cosmeceutical and pharmacological applications. Research in this field is opening new doors for harnessing the potential of marine natural products.
AB - Carbohydrates, also called saccharides, are molecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They are the most abundant biomolecules and essential components of many natural products and have attracted the attention of researchers because of their numerous human health benefits. Among carbohydrates the polysaccharides represent some of the most abundant bioactive substances in marine organisms. In fact, many marine macro- and microorganisms are good resources of carbohydrates with diverse applications due to their biofunctional properties. By acting on cell proliferation and cycle, and by modulating different metabolic pathways, marine polysaccharides (including mainly chitin, chitosan, fucoidan, carrageenan and alginate) also have numerous pharmaceutical activities, such as antioxidative, antibacterial, antiviral, immuno-stimulatory, anticoagulant and anticancer effects. Moreover, these polysaccharides have many general beneficial effects for human health, and have therefore been developed into potential cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals. In this review we describe current advances in the development of marine polysaccharides for nutraceutical, cosmeceutical and pharmacological applications. Research in this field is opening new doors for harnessing the potential of marine natural products.
KW - cosmeceutics
KW - marine polysaccharides
KW - nutraceutics
KW - pharmaceutics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85015105092&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85015105092&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/molecules21050551
DO - 10.3390/molecules21050551
M3 - Review article
VL - 21
JO - Molecules
JF - Molecules
SN - 1420-3049
IS - 5
ER -