Seaweeds as source of bioactive compounds
The constituents of seaweeds are more innovative than those of many land plants and because of their varying biological capabilities, have long been recognized as a rich and significant natural resource of bioactive chemicals (18, 19). Compounds from marine organisms are pharmacologically bioactive and have shown significant effects against various types of medical conditions (20, 21). Natural compounds obtained from marine organisms are used in the treatment of various diseases and disorders since ancient times (22). Red seaweeds (Kappaphycus alvarezii ) farmed at the Western Indian Ocean marine sites have been shown to have antioxidant and antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria (23). Table 1 represents some of the bioactive compounds from seaweeds.
Table 1: Bioactive molecules reported in seaweed extract