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Biological Activities and Applications of Marine Algae

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Bioactives and Nutraceuticals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 995

Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Chouaib Doukkali University, El Jadida 24000, Morocco
Interests: biological activities of marine algae; bioactive compounds from seaweed; marine algae in sustainable agriculture; natural products for antimicrobial and anticancer applications

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Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Biology, Chouaib Doukkali University, El Jadida 24000, Morocco
Interests: biochemistry; biotechnology; microbiology; marine biology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to announce this Special Issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences, titled "Biological Activities and Applications of Marine Algae". Marine algae contain a wide variety of compounds that display many different types of biological activity; examples include antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities, etc. Because of their numerous applications in agriculture, health care, and biotechnology, there is growing scientific interest in the use of marine algae as sustainable natural resources. This Special Issue aims to explore the biological activities and potential applications of marine algae, focusing on their bioactive compounds and their use in agriculture, medicine, and biotechnology for the development of sustainable and high-value products. We are pleased to invite contributions that explore the latest advances in the biological activities and applications of marine algae, including, but not limited to, the identification of bioactive compounds, evaluation of their biological properties, and their potential uses in agriculture, medicine, and biotechnology. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include studies highlighting innovative approaches and practical applications of marine algal compounds.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Fatima Lakhdar
Guest Editor

Dr. Bouchra Benhniya
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • marine algae
  • biological activity
  • bioactive compounds
  • antimicrobial
  • antioxidant
  • anticancer
  • sustainable natural resources
  • agriculture
  • health care
  • biotechnology

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 3390 KB  
Article
Bioactive Sulfated Polysaccharides from Green Algae Codium tomentosum Stackhouse, 1797: Structural Characterization and Therapeutic Potential
by Bouchra Benhniya, Fatima Zahra Karmil, Soukaina El Maliki, Noureddine El Hasbaoui, Fatima Lakhdar, Christel Marty, David Boutolleau, Nathalie Bourgougnon and Samira Etahiri
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(11), 4848; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27114848 - 27 May 2026
Viewed by 562
Abstract
Marine seaweeds are recognized as a rich source of structurally diverse bioactive compounds, particularly sulfated polysaccharides with promising biomedical applications. In the present study, a sulfated polysaccharide Codium tomentosum fraction (PSCT) was extracted from the Moroccan green seaweed Codium tomentosum and subjected to [...] Read more.
Marine seaweeds are recognized as a rich source of structurally diverse bioactive compounds, particularly sulfated polysaccharides with promising biomedical applications. In the present study, a sulfated polysaccharide Codium tomentosum fraction (PSCT) was extracted from the Moroccan green seaweed Codium tomentosum and subjected to comprehensive chemical, structural, and biological characterization. The extraction yield reached 22.01%, and the polysaccharide fraction was mainly composed of neutral sugars (66.84%), along with significant levels of sulfate groups (8.73%) and uronic acids (4.13%). Monosaccharide analysis revealed a predominance of galactose and arabinose, indicating a complex heteropolysaccharide structure. Spectroscopic and morphological analyses (FTIR, XRD, UV–Vis, and SEM–EDS) suggested predominantly amorphous characteristics and confirmed the sulfated profile of the extract. Biological evaluation demonstrated that PSCT exhibits multifunctional bioactivities. The extract showed notable antiviral activity against Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV1), with an EC50 value of 12.22 ± 2.90 µg/mL and no detectable cytotoxicity (CC50 > 200.00 µg/mL). In addition, PSCT displayed strong antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans, with remarkably low MIC values ranging from 0.05 to 0.78 mg/mL. Furthermore, antioxidant assays revealed concentration-dependent activity, with up to 68% DPPH radical scavenging and an IC50 of 1.25 mg/mL, indicating a moderate antioxidant potential, along with notable reducing power in the FRAP assay. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of C. tomentosum-derived polysaccharides as multifunctional natural agents with antiviral, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, supporting their prospective application in pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Activities and Applications of Marine Algae)
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