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Red Algae

Red Algae

Red algae, also known as rhodophytes, are primarily found in marine environments, though some species inhabit freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. These organisms exist in both unicellular and multicellular forms, with some multicellular varieties reaching macroscopic sizes.As phototrophic organisms, red algae contain chlorophyll a; however, their chloroplasts lack chlorophyll b. Instead, they possess phycobiliproteins, which serve as major light-harvesting pigments, similar to those found in...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 18, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring Seaweed's Bioactive Compounds for Sustainable Innovations in Industries

Author Spotlight: Exploring Seaweed's Bioactive Compounds for Sustainable Innovations in Industries

Published on: November 21, 2023

Exploring the Human Health Properties of Compounds Derived from Red Seaweed Using Human In Vitro Cell Line Models.

Friedel Dewulf¹, Ilias Semmouri², Laura Van Peteghem²

¹Blue Growth Research Lab, Ghent University, Bluebridge, Wetenschapspark 1, Ostend, 8400, Belgium. friedel.dewulf@ugent.be.

Marine Biotechnology (New York, N.Y.)

|January 16, 2026

Summary

Red seaweed compounds R-phycoerythrin (R-PE) and floridoside were tested for immune effects. R-PE and seaweed extracts showed immunostimulatory potential by increasing cytokine secretion, while floridoside had limited bioactivity.

Keywords:

Cell lines Floridoside R-phycoerythrin Red seaweed

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Published on: October 11, 2022

Area of Science:

Marine biotechnology
Natural product chemistry
Immunology

Background:

Red seaweeds are sources of bioactive compounds for health.
Mechanisms of action for seaweed bioactives in humans are underexplored.
Investigating immunomodulatory potential of red seaweed components.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the safety and immunomodulatory effects of R-phycoerythrin (R-PE) and floridoside.
To assess phycobiliprotein-rich extracts from Acrochaetium secundatum and Gracilaria gracilis.
To determine effects on cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and cytokine secretion.

Main Methods:

In vitro assays using Caco-2 intestinal cells and THP-1 macrophages.
Cell viability assessed via fluorescence-based assays.
Measured intracellular ROS and cytokine (IL-6, IL-8) secretion.

Main Results:

R-PE and seaweed extracts showed minimal cytotoxicity.
R-PE dose-dependently increased IL-6 and IL-8 in macrophages.
Floridoside had no significant effect on cytokine levels; both compounds increased ROS in Caco-2 cells.

Conclusions:

Floridoside exhibits limited bioactivity under tested conditions.
R-PE and red seaweed extracts possess immunostimulatory potential.
Seaweed extracts offer a cost-effective alternative to purified compounds for bioactives.