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Marine Algae Benefits in Pharmaceuticals, Cosmeceuticals, and Nutraceuticals

A special issue of Marine Drugs (ISSN 1660-3397). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine-Derived Ingredients for Drugs, Cosmeceuticals and Nutraceuticals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 733

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Pharmacy, Ovidius University of Constanta, Capitan Aviator Al. Serbanescu Street, No. 6, Campus, Building C, 900470 Constanta, Romania
Interests: marine biomass; marine algae; marine organisms; bioactive compounds from natural resources; antioxidant activity; nutraceuticals; cosmeceuticals; pharmaceuticals; vegetal extracts characterization; metals bioaccumulation
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E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Pharmacy, Ovidius University of Constanta, Capitan Aviator Al. Serbanescu Street, No. 6, Campus, Building C, 900470 Constanta, Romania
Interests: marine natural products; isolation and characterization; analytical methods; bioactive compounds; phytochemicals; marine biomass; blue biotechnology; minerals in natural products; formulation of pharmaceutical/cosmeceutical/nutraceutical products
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, 296, Splai Independentei Bvd., 060031 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: natural bioactive compounds; tissue engineering; regenerative medicine; pharmaceuticals; cosmeceuticals; nutraceuticals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to our Special Issue of Marine Drugs, entitled “Marine Algae Benefits in Pharmaceuticals, Cosmeceuticals, and Nutraceuticals”. This issue will cover a selection of recent research topics and current review articles, reporting the latest updates on the different benefits of marine algae used as products for health and nutrition.

Marine algae or seaweeds are diverse and valuable resources that have been utilized for various purposes, including pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and nutraceuticals. Marine algae are still underexploited bioresources of bioactive compounds, which can be better valorized for the development of a circular bioeconomy. They represent a sustainable source for obtaining natural bioactive extracts through conventional and green techniques. Isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds from marine algae reveal physico-chemical, biochemical, structural, and biological properties, which can be useful to obtain novel therapeutically active products with valuable benefits and biomedical applications. As pharmaceuticals, marine algae are rich sources of bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, peptides, and polyphenols, which have demonstrated various pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anticoagulant, immunomodulatory effects, antioxidant properties, and anticancer potential. As cosmeceuticals, algal extracts are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can benefit skin health, known for their hydrating, moisturizing, anti-aging properties, natural pigments and skin protection from UV radiations. As nutraceuticals, marine algae have gained recognition as a superfood due to their exceptional nutritional profile, for weight management, offering a unique set of health-promoting compounds, cardiovascular and digestive health, as well as antioxidant benefits. However, it is essential to ensure that algae are sourced from clean marine waters to avoid contamination and to be mindful of individual dietary needs and iodine intake. It is important to note that while marine algae offer numerous potential benefits, further research and development are needed to fully understand their mechanisms of action and optimize their use in pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and nutraceuticals. Additionally, sustainability practices should be considered to ensure the responsible harvesting and cultivation of marine algae. In summary, the multifaceted benefits of marine algae in pharmaceutics, cosmeceuticals, and nutrition products, coupled with their eco-friendly cultivation, make them a fascinating and promising area of research and bio-application and a potential sustainable source of bioactive compounds, reducing dependence on traditional pharmaceutical and cosmetic ingredients.

This Special Issue invites original research contributions and reviews on the potential for the use of compounds extracted from marine algae to the development of innovative pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and nutraceuticals.

Prof. Dr. Ticuta Negreanu-Pirjol
Dr. Bogdan-Stefan Negreanu-Pirjol
Dr. Oana Crăciunescu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Marine Drugs is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • algal bioactive principles
  • algal cosmeceuticals
  • algal drug discovery
  • algal extracts for beauty products
  • algal anti-aging products
  • algal functional foods
  • algal pharmaceuticals
  • algae nutricosmetics
  • algal nutraceuticals
  • algal omega-3 supplements
  • algae primary and secondary metabolites
  • anti-inflammatory potential
  • antioxidant properties
  • biomedical applications
  • biopolymers and biomaterials
  • cosmeceutical compounds from marine algae
  • drug delivery systems
  • marine macroalgae bio-applications
  • marine-based nutrition
  • marine algae extracts
  • marine-derived drugs
  • marine-based cosmetics
  • marine-derived skincare ingredients
  • marine-derived dietary supplements
  • nutraceutical compounds from marine algae
  • pharmaceutical compounds from marine algae
  • seaweed-based medicines
  • seaweed skincare
  • seaweed supplements
  • seaweed health benefits

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

26 pages, 3575 KiB  
Article
Antioxidant Power of Brown Algae: Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus Extracts Mitigate Oxidative Stress In Vitro and In Vivo
by Lea Karlsberger, Georg Sandner, Lenka Molčanová, Tomáš Rýpar, Stéphanie Ladirat and Julian Weghuber
Mar. Drugs 2025, 23(8), 322; https://doi.org/10.3390/md23080322 - 6 Aug 2025
Abstract
Brown algae such as Ascophyllum nodosum (AN) and Fucus vesiculosus (FV) are gaining considerable attention as functional feed additives due to their health-beneficial properties. This study evaluated the antioxidant potential of AN and FV extracts in intestinal epithelial cells and the in vivo [...] Read more.
Brown algae such as Ascophyllum nodosum (AN) and Fucus vesiculosus (FV) are gaining considerable attention as functional feed additives due to their health-beneficial properties. This study evaluated the antioxidant potential of AN and FV extracts in intestinal epithelial cells and the in vivo model Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Aqueous AN and FV extracts were characterized for total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity (TEAC, FRAP), and phlorotannin composition using LC-HRMS/MS. Antioxidant effects were assessed in vitro, measuring AAPH-induced ROS production in Caco-2 and IPEC-J2 cells via H2DCF-DA, and in vivo, evaluating the effects of paraquat-induced oxidative stress and AN or FV treatment on worm motility, GST-4::GFP reporter expression, and gene expression in C. elegans. FV exhibited higher total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity (TEAC, FRAP), and a broader phlorotannin profile (degree of polymerization [DP] 2–9) than AN (DP 2–7), as determined by LC-HRMS/MS. Both extracts attenuated AAPH-induced oxidative stress in epithelial cells, with FV showing greater efficacy. In C. elegans, pre-treatment with AN and FV significantly mitigated a paraquat-induced motility decline by 22% and 11%, respectively, compared to PQ-stressed controls. Under unstressed conditions, both extracts enhanced nematode healthspan, with significant effects observed at 400 µg/g for AN and starting at 100 µg/g for FV. Gene expression analysis indicated that both extracts modulated antioxidant pathways in unstressed worms. Under oxidative stress, pre-treatment with AN and FV significantly reduced GST-4::GFP expression. In the nematode, AN was more protective under acute stress, whereas FV better supported physiological function in the absence of stressors. These findings demonstrate that AN and FV counteract oxidative stress in intestinal epithelial cells and in C. elegans, highlighting their potential as stress-reducing agents in animal feed. Full article
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