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Marine Drugs
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Functional Components from Algae: Extraction, Characterization and Applications
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Functional Components from Algae: Extraction, Characterization and Applications

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: 15 August 2026 | Viewed by 1766

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Aurora Silva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
REQUIMTE/LAQV-ISEP, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Porto, Portugal
Interests: algae; natural products; bioactivities; antimicrobial tests
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Miguel Ángel Prieto Lage

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Nutrition and Bromatology Group, Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Science, Faculty of Science, University of Vigo, E-32004 Ourense, Spain
Interests: algae; food chemistry; food technology; bioactive compounds; analytical techniques; natural food products; natural cosmetics; emergent technologies; green processes; sustainability; bioinformatics; chemical engineering; synergy; antagonism; natural and synthetic antioxidants; mathematical modeling; biological responses; toxicology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Clara Grosso

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
REQUIMTE, LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia Do Porto, Instituto Politécnico Do Porto, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
Interests: medicinal and aromatic plants; seaweeds; secondary metabolites; bioactivities; green extraction processes; nanotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Maria Fátima Sá Barroso

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
REQUIMTE–LAQV, School of Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Interests: food; analytical chemistry; by-products; antioxidants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following the success of the first edition (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/marinedrugs/special_issues/8G98VL6730), which resulted in the publication of eight peer-reviewed articles, we are pleased to present a second edition of this Special Issue in Marine Drugs, further highlighting algae as an important source of bioactive marine compounds.

Algae comprise a vast and diverse group of marine organisms characterized by distinct biochemical compositions. They are an abundant source of functional components, including polysaccharides, polyphenols, pigments, lipids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, many of which exhibit significant biological activities such as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, and antitumor effects. Despite growing interest, the chemical complexity of algal matrices and the diversity of metabolites still require continuous methodological and analytical advancements.

This second edition aims to provide updated insights into the extraction, characterization, and biological potential of algae-derived functional components, emphasizing innovative, sustainable, and efficient methodologies through original research articles and critical reviews.

Dr. Aurora Silva
Dr. Miguel Ángel Prieto Lage
Dr. Clara Grosso
Dr. Maria Fátima Sá Barroso
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • algae functional components
  • bioactive molecules
  • health benefits
  • nutraceuticals
  • applications (food, pharmaceutical, biomedical, cosmetic, and wellness)

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 5881 KB  
Article
Integrative Metabolomics and Systems Pharmacology Reveal PPARγ-Centered Antidiabetic Mechanisms of Caulerpa racemosa and Its Bioactive Compounds
by Fahrul Nurkolis, Annette d’Arqom, Evhy Apryani, Nurmawati Fatimah, Adha Fauzi Hendrawan, Izza Afkarina, Reggie Surya, Happy Kurnia Permatasari, Dante Saksono Harbuwono, Nurpudji Astuti Taslim, Arifa Mustika and Raymond Rubianto Tjandrawinata
Mar. Drugs 2026, 24(2), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/md24020082 - 17 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1240
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex metabolic disorder requiring safe, multitarget therapeutic strategies. Marine macroalgae represent an underexplored source of bioactives with pleiotropic metabolic effects. This study investigated the antidiabetic potential of an ultrasound-assisted ethanolic extract of Caulerpa racemosa (UAECr) and [...] Read more.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex metabolic disorder requiring safe, multitarget therapeutic strategies. Marine macroalgae represent an underexplored source of bioactives with pleiotropic metabolic effects. This study investigated the antidiabetic potential of an ultrasound-assisted ethanolic extract of Caulerpa racemosa (UAECr) and its key phytosterol, campesterol, through an integrative framework combining metabolomics, network pharmacology, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and in vitro validation. Untargeted ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC–HRMS) metabolomics characterized UAECr constituents, followed by in silico bioactivity prediction, target-network analysis, molecular docking, and 100 ns molecular dynamics simulation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ)–campesterol complex. Functional validation was performed in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes assessing glucose uptake, PPARγ expression, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibition, and cytotoxicity. Metabolomics identified campesterol as a prominent bioactive. Network pharmacology highlighted PPARγ as a central hub, supported by strong docking affinity of campesterol toward PPARγ (−11.4 kcal/mol) and DPP-4 (−8.3 kcal/mol). Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated stable PPARγ–campesterol interactions, with preserved protein compactness and low residue fluctuation. In vitro, UAECr and campesterol significantly enhanced glucose uptake (up to 134% vs. control, p < 0.001), upregulated PPARγ expression (4-fold, p < 0.0001), and moderately inhibited DPP-4 activity (p < 0.01) without cytotoxicity. C. racemosa-derived extracts and campesterol exert antidiabetic effects primarily via stable PPARγ-mediated insulin sensitization with complementary DPP-4 modulation, supporting its potential as a marine-derived functional food candidate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Components from Algae: Extraction, Characterization and Applications)
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Review

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21 pages, 1663 KB  
Review
Algae-Derived Bioactives Reprogram the Gut–SIRT1–Kisspeptin Axis in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
by Arifa Mustika, Era Gorica, Dante Saksono Harbuwono, Eighty Mardiyan Kurniawati, Edwin Hadinata, Amal Arifi Hidayat, Salmon Charles Pardomuan Tua Siahaan, Hendy Hendarto, Antonello Santini and Fahrul Nurkolis
Mar. Drugs 2026, 24(5), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/md24050185 - 20 May 2026
Viewed by 244
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is increasingly recognized as a complex, multi-system disorder involving interactions among metabolic dysfunction, chronic low-grade inflammation, and neuroendocrine dysregulation, rather than a condition confined to the ovary. While current management strategies primarily target symptomatic manifestations, such as menstrual irregularity, [...] Read more.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is increasingly recognized as a complex, multi-system disorder involving interactions among metabolic dysfunction, chronic low-grade inflammation, and neuroendocrine dysregulation, rather than a condition confined to the ovary. While current management strategies primarily target symptomatic manifestations, such as menstrual irregularity, hyperandrogenism, and insulin resistance, they do not directly address the underlying integrative pathways linking the gut microbiome, cellular energy sensing, and hypothalamic reproductive control. This review proposes a mechanistic framework in which algae-derived bioactives modulate a gut–SIRT1–kisspeptin axis, thereby offering a systems-level perspective on PCOS pathophysiology and intervention. Gut dysbiosis in PCOS contributes to altered bile acid signaling, disrupted microbial metabolite profiles, and increased inflammatory tone, all of which may impair both metabolic and reproductive functions. Concurrently, reduced activity of the NAD+-dependent deacetylase SIRT1 has been documented across ovarian, endometrial, and metabolic tissues, linking energy imbalance to oxidative stress, inflammation, and impaired steroidogenesis. At the neuroendocrine level, dysregulated kisspeptin signaling contributes to abnormal gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulsatility and luteinizing hormone hypersecretion, key features of PCOS. Algae-derived compounds, including polysaccharides, phlorotannins, fucoidan, fucoxanthin, and microalgae bioactives, exhibit prebiotic, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic regulatory properties that intersect with these pathways, particularly through modulation of gut microbiota and activation of AMPK/SIRT1 signaling. The central proposition of this review is that algae-derived bioactives may act across interconnected biological layers: reshaping gut microbial ecology, restoring SIRT1-mediated metabolic balance, and retuning kisspeptin-driven neuroendocrine activity. While individual components of this axis are supported by substantial evidence, direct experimental validation of the complete pathway remains limited. Therefore, this framework is positioned as a translationally grounded but hypothesis-driven model that integrates currently fragmented findings into a coherent and testable paradigm. Future research should prioritize multi-level experimental and clinical studies that simultaneously assess microbiota composition, metabolic signaling, and reproductive neuroendocrine outcomes to establish the therapeutic potential of algae-based interventions in PCOS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Components from Algae: Extraction, Characterization and Applications)
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