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Review
. 2022 Jul 27;11(15):2235.
doi: 10.3390/foods11152235.

Brown Algae as Functional Food Source of Fucoxanthin: A Review

Nur Akmal Solehah Din  1 , 'Ain Sajda Mohd Alayudin  1 , Noor-Soffalina Sofian-Seng  1   2 , Hafeedza Abdul Rahman  1   2 , Noorul Syuhada Mohd Razali  1   2 , Seng Joe Lim  1   2 , Wan Aida Wan Mustapha  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Brown Algae as Functional Food Source of Fucoxanthin: A Review

Nur Akmal Solehah Din et al. Foods. .

Abstract

Fucoxanthin is an algae-specific xanthophyll of aquatic carotenoid. It is prevalent in brown seaweed because it functions as a light-harvesting complex for algal photosynthesis and photoprotection. Its exceptional chemical structure exhibits numerous biological activities that benefit human health. Due to these valuable properties, fucoxanthin's potential as a potent source for functional food, feed, and medicine is being explored extensively today. This article has thoroughly reviewed the availability and biosynthesis of fucoxanthin in the brown seaweed, as well as the mechanism behind it. We included the literature findings concerning the beneficial bioactivities of fucoxanthin such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, antidiabetic, anticancer, and other potential activities. Last, an additional view on its potential as a functional food ingredient has been discussed to facilitate a broader application of fucoxanthin as a promising bioactive compound.

Keywords: aquatic natural product; brown seaweed; carotenoid; fucoxanthin; functional foods.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Summary of carotenoids classification in seaweed.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Chemical structure of fucoxanthin.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Carotenoid pathways in different seaweeds (Redrawn based on Mikami and Hosokawa [18] and Zarekarizi, Hoffmann and Burritt [36]).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Metabolism of fucoxanthin.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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