Bioactive Secondary Metabolites From Marine Macroalgae

Abstract

Seaweeds or macroalgae are autotrophic macroscopic marine algae which come under three major groups, viz. Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta, and Phaeophyta. As the macroalgae are sessile and live in a very dynamic marine environment where they are exposed to variation in salinity, temperature, gracing pressure, and desiccation, they use chemical defense mechanisms for their survival. They produce a variety of secondary metabolites in order to save themselves from the adverse environmental conditions, interspecies competition, fouling, pathogens, and grazing. The plethora of compounds produced by the macroalgae include phenolics, alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, polysaccharides, fatty acids, amino acids, and peptides. Many of these secondary metabolites are reported to possess biological activity of medicinal value and find application in food, pharma, and cosmetics industries. This chapter deals with the important secondary metabolites that can be isolated from marine macroalgae and their importance.