Thousands of bioactive components are derived from various marine macro
and microalgae. Such beneficial algae are considered as a renewable and sustainable
resource of bioactives with potential use as dietary food supplement, anti-viral,
antiinflammatory, anti-cancerous, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial agents
which can provide nutritive and health care benefits. The biochemical infrastructure of
algae comprises proteins, lipids, polysaccharides, minerals, vitamins etc. which can be
used as nutritional and dietary sources along with use in therapeutics and cosmetics.
The therapeutic and industrial applications of the algal derivatives are primarily due to
the secondary metabolites such as astaxanthin, aquamin, alginates, fucoidan, omega-3-
fatty acids, polyphenols, fucoxanthin, etc. This chapter focuses on various algae
derived bioactives and their wide range of applications.
Keywords: Algae, Alginates, Aquamin, Astaxanthin, Bioactive, Fucoidan, Fucoxanthin, Polyphenols, Omega-3- fatty acids, Therapeutics.
