AYV News, September 18, 2024
Medical experts have informed that Seaweeds may be used to extract a variety of secondary bioactive compounds with significant medicinal and industrial potential, adding that antifungal, antibiotic, antiviral, contraceptive, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant and anticoagulant effects are among the bioactivities of seaweed metabolites.
However, in Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the National Tourist Board alongside its partners are embarking on clearing the seaweeds to mitigate its effects on Lumley-Aberdeen beach.
The ministry said the endeavour seek to reduce dirt and human waste off the surface of the beach in order to cushion the effects of the prevailing seaweeds on the beach that the Ministry and NTB are grappling to contain.
Seaweed polysaccharides are employed in the manufacture of toothpastes, soaps, shampoos, cosmetics, milk, ice creams, meat, processed food, air fresheners and a host of other items. In several oriental countries like Japan, China, Korea, etc., seaweeds are a staple part of the diet.
Seaweeds are one of the most important living resources of the ocean. Inspite of their wide applications in food and feed industries, they have gained importance as medicinal sources because of their high healing, antimicrobial and antioxidative properties.
As a rich source of valuable chemical components, seaweeds are used in various other industries like cosmetics, fuel, water treatment etc. Being a plant of unique structure and biochemical composition, seaweed could be used highly for its multi-functional properties in the form of food, energy, medicine and cosmetics.
The distribution, properties and wide application of seaweeds are discussed in detail in this manuscript. Macroscopic marine algae, popularly known as seaweeds, form one of the important living resources of the ocean. Agar, carrageenan and alginate are popular examples of seaweeds these have been used as food for human beings, feed for animals, fertilizers for plants and source of various chemicals.
In the recent past, seaweeds have also been gaining momentum as new experimental systems for biological research and integrated aquaculture systems. Seaweed products are used in our daily lives in one or the other way.