Health applications of bioactive compounds from marine microalgae

Marine microalgae and cyanobacteria are very rich in several chemical compounds and, therefore, they may be used in several biological applications related with health benefits, among others. This review brings the research up-to-date on the bioactive compounds produced by marine unicellular algae,...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Raposo, M. Filomena de J. (author)
Other Authors: Morais, Rui M. S. C. (author), Morais, Alcina M. M. B. (author)
Format: article
Language:eng
Published: 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/14273
Country:Portugal
Oai:oai:repositorio.ucp.pt:10400.14/14273
Description
Summary:Marine microalgae and cyanobacteria are very rich in several chemical compounds and, therefore, they may be used in several biological applications related with health benefits, among others. This review brings the research up-to-date on the bioactive compounds produced by marine unicellular algae, directly or indirectly related to human health. It covers and goes through themost studied applications of substances such as PUFA, sterols, proteins and enzymes, vitamins and pigments, in areas so diverse as human and animal nutrition, therapeutics, and aquaculture. The great potential of marine microalgae and the biocoumpounds they produce are discussed in this review.