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Review
. 2021 Aug 25;19(9):476.
doi: 10.3390/md19090476.

An Overview of New Insights into the Benefits of the Seagrass Posidonia oceanica for Human Health

Marzia Vasarri  1 , Anna Maria De Biasi  2 , Emanuela Barletta  1 , Carlo Pretti  2   3 , Donatella Degl'Innocenti  1   3
Affiliations
Review

An Overview of New Insights into the Benefits of the Seagrass Posidonia oceanica for Human Health

Marzia Vasarri et al. Mar Drugs. .

Abstract

Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is a Mediterranean-endemic angiosperm often described for its great ecological importance. Despite evidence of a millennia-old relationship between P. oceanica and humans, as well as traditional medicine applications, the potential benefits of P. oceanica for human health have been documented only recently. This review aims to compile newly acquired knowledge on P. oceanica bioactive properties that allow the scientific community to look at this plant as a promising source of natural therapeutical products for human health. Experimental investigations conducted in both in vitro cellular-based and in vivo animal models pave the way for new research projects aiming at the development of alternative and complementary therapeutic strategies based on P. oceanica against a wide range of pathological conditions.

Keywords: P. oceanica; angiosperm; marine natural products; phytochemicals; seagrass; secondary metabolites.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Summary list of the ecological significance of P. oceanica seagrass.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic list of traditional roles of P. oceanica seagrass in both the commercial, industrial, and agricultural sectors (blue box) and in the medical field for the treatment of human health disorders (yellow box).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Scheme of the different modes of action of P. oceanica and possible therapeutic targets for human health.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Schematic representation of the potential benefits of P. oceanica phytocomplex in human health.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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