seaweed extracts

Drug Overview Chinese Name: Seaweed Extract Latin: Sargassum fusiforme (Harv.) Seth English Name: seaweedExtract
Main ingredients: alginate, crude protein, various vitamins, enzymes, and trace elements.
【 Extraction source 】 Seaweed.
【 Physical Characteristics 】 Brown yellow powder.
【 Pharmacological effects 】 Seaweed is used for softening and hardening; Eliminate phlegm; Lishui; Reduce swelling. Treatment for scrofula; Gall tumor; Accumulation; Edema; Athlete's foot; Testicular swelling and pain; Hernia. Bitter, salty, and cold. Return to the liver, stomach, and kidney meridians.
chemical composition
Seaweed contains alginate, crude protein, various vitamins, enzymes, and trace elements. Rich in various vitamins: vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B12, C, E, K, Bc (folate), and choline. Amino acids: arginine, alanine, arginine, glycine, lysine, aspartic acid, valine, leucine, isoleucine, etc. Inorganic substances: iodine, calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, potassium, chlorine, magnesium, sulfur, chlorine, copper, zinc, and manganese. There are also trace elements. Carbohydrates: fucose, mannose, xylose, galactose, and glucose. Other ingredients: alginic acid, alginate, carrageenan, casein, protein, and mucin.
essential information
Due to their different metabolic pathways and metabolites from terrestrial plants, seaweed has complex and diverse active components, with over 60 types reported, including abundant mineral nutrients such as calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc. Seaweed polysaccharides include brown algae starch, fucoidan, fucoidan, xylan, and glucan, as well as sugar alcohols, amino acids, vitamins, cytochromes, betaine, and phenolic compounds. In addition, seaweed also contains natural hormone substances such as auxin, cytokinin, gibberellin, and abscisic acid. [3]
application area
1. Cosmetics
Traditional cosmetics generally use active ingredients derived from plants, animals, or biotechnology. In addition, a new, multifunctional, cultivable, ecologically sourced ingredient: phytoplankton (a single celled microalgae), extracts of various phytoplankton have been found to alleviate skin stress and restore skin dynamic balance. Seaweed polyphenols can eliminate free radicals and have good anti-aging effects.
2. Agriculture
Seaweed extract, as a synergist with biostimulatory effects, can be applied alone or in combination with chemical fertilizers; It can not only improve the efficiency of fertilizer utilization, promote plant growth and development, but also enhance crop stress resistance.
In addition, there are also industries such as food and healthcare.
Preparation process

1. Physical extraction method
Physical extraction method, also known as mechanical crushing method, uses high temperature, high pressure, or low temperature freezing to forcibly break the cell wall of seaweed, causing the intracellular fluid to flow out. It mainly includes osmotic shock method, homogeneous filtration method, ultrasonic crushing method, microwave-assisted method, high-pressure homogenization method, freezing crushing method, etc.
2. Chemical extraction method
Chemical extraction is a method of extracting functional substances from seaweed cells by treating them with acids, bases, and organic solvents to dissolve the cells or solubilize endogenous substances, such as organic solvent extraction, alkaline extraction, acid extraction, etc.
3. Biological extraction method
The biological extraction methods of seaweed include enzymatic hydrolysis extraction and microbial fermentation. Enzymatic hydrolysis is the process of adding one or more of proteases, pectinases, cellulases, lytic enzymes, and oxidoreductases in a stepwise or mixed manner to seaweed slurry, degrading the proteins, polysaccharides, pectin, cellulose, and other components in the seaweed cell wall, and releasing the intracellular contents.
4. Composite extraction method
Composite degradation is a commonly used method in seaweed production. In production, one, two, or three physical, chemical, or biological methods are often combined to efficiently degrade seaweed, resulting in high yields of extracts or active substances.

pharmacological action
Seaweed polysaccharides have various effects on cells, including immune regulation, anti-tumor, anti mutation, induction of cell differentiation, antiviral, antioxidant, and more. It can prevent and treat endemic thyroid and significantly reduce cholesterol. Increase the absorption of calcium. It has a certain preventive and adjuvant therapeutic effect on hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and hyperlipidemia. Clinical research has shown that it has anti fatigue effects, anti hyperlipidemia, coagulation effects, and its application in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, as well as its ability to lower blood pressure and radiation protection effects. Trehalose has good compatibility, compatibility, stability, excellent water retention and hygroscopicity, and can replace water in cells during severe dehydration. In addition, seaweed can be processed and extracted to produce fertilizers that can increase yield, improve seed germination, enhance crop resistance to insects, fungi, and frost, improve crop absorption of soil inorganic components, and reduce soil fertility loss.