From Marine Algal Bioactives to Scalable Applications: Integrating Extraction, Mechanisms, Delivery, Safety, and Commercial Translation

Summary

This review critically synthesises current knowledge on macroalgal and microalgal bioactives and their applications across food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, agricultural and biotechnological sectors. It examines the relationship between algal source, cultivation conditions, extraction strategy and biological activity, whilst evaluating progress in green extraction, delivery systems and analytical characterisation. The authors highlight key mechanisms of action including antioxidant defence, anti-inflammatory signalling, and gut microbiota modulation, but identify significant limitations including biomass variability, compound instability, limited human validation, and scale-up costs that constrain commercialisation.

Regional applicability

The review addresses global marine algal resources and does not focus on United Kingdom-specific production systems, though it may inform UK nutraceutical, functional food and cosmetic product development utilising imported or domestically cultivated marine algae. Applicability to UK aquaculture and crop biostimulant applications depends on regulatory acceptance and cost-competitiveness relative to existing ingredients.

Key measures

Bioactive compound classes (polysaccharides, carotenoids, phenolics, proteins, peptides, vitamins, mycosporine-like amino acids, PUFAs); mechanisms of action (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, enzyme inhibition, antimicrobial, antiviral, gut microbiota interaction, cell-cycle regulation); bioaccessibility and bioavailability; applications and commercial viability.

Outcomes reported

This review synthesises knowledge on bioactive compounds from macroalgae and microalgae, including sulfated polysaccharides, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, proteins, peptides, vitamins, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and their mechanisms of action. It evaluates progress in biotechnological production, extraction, purification, delivery systems, and applications across food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, agricultural and environmental sectors whilst addressing commercial and regulatory challenges.

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