Role of Main Red Seaweed Bioactive Compounds in Modulating Redox Imbalance and Cholinergic Dysfunction: Insights from...

Area of Science:

• Marine Biotechnology
• Natural Product Chemistry
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Oxidative and nitrosative stress are implicated in chronic inflammatory disorders, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease.
• Cholinergic dysfunction is a key feature of Alzheimer's disease, closely linked to these pathological processes.
• Red seaweeds contain bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of red seaweed metabolites in modulating redox imbalance, immunomodulatory capacity, and acetylcholinesterase activity.
• To focus on in vitro evidence for these effects.
• To identify key bioactive compounds from red seaweeds and their mechanisms of action.

Main Methods:

• Literature analysis of peer-reviewed studies focusing on chemical, biochemical, and cell-based assays.
• Assessment of antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory/immunostimulatory effects, and acetylcholinesterase inhibition.
• Utilized established methods like radical scavenging assays, Griess-based nitrite assay, and enzyme inhibition assays.

Main Results:

• Red seaweed metabolites including sulfated polysaccharides, MAAs, phycoerythrin, bromophenols, phlorotannins, and terpenoids exhibit antioxidant capacity via radical scavenging, metal chelation, and endogenous antioxidant modulation.
• These compounds demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects by modulating nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines.
• Significant inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was observed.

Conclusions:

• In vitro studies provide strong evidence for red seaweed-derived compounds as modulators of redox homeostasis, inflammation, and cholinergic function.
• These findings highlight the potential of red seaweed metabolites as functional food ingredients.
• Further in vivo and clinical validation is essential to confirm therapeutic efficacy.