Proteins and Carbohydrates from Red Seaweeds: Evidence for Beneficial Effects on Gut Function and Microbiota

Marine Drugs

Raúl E. Cian³  Silvina R. Drago³  FermínSánchez de Medina¹  Olga Martínez-Augustin² 

[1] Department of Pharmacology, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Universidad de Granada, Campus de Cartuja s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; E-Mail:;Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos José Mataix, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain;Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos, Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, 1° de Mayo 3250, (3000) Santa Fe, República Argentina; E-Mails:

关键词: red seaweeds;    sulfated galactans;    bioactive peptides;    Rhodophyta;    mucosal barrier function;    immunomodulation;    cell differentiation;    cell proliferation;    NF-κB;    MAPK;   

DOI  :  10.3390/md13085358

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Based on their composition, marine algae, and namely red seaweeds, are good potential functional foods. Intestinal mucosal barrier function refers to the capacity of the intestine to provide adequate containment of luminal microorganisms and molecules. Here, we will first outline the component of seaweeds and will summarize the effects of these on the regulation of mucosal barrier function. Special attention will be paid to unique components of red seaweeds: proteins and derived peptides (e.g., phycobiliproteins, glycoproteins that contain “cellulose binding domains”, phycolectins and the related mycosporine-like amino acids) together with polysaccharides (e.g., floridean starch and sulfated galactans, such as carrageenans, agarans and “dl-hybrid”) and minerals. These compounds have been shown to exert prebiotic effects, to regulate intestinal epithelial cell, macrophage and lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation and to modulate the immune response. Molecular mechanisms of action of peptides and polysaccharides are starting to be elucidated, and evidence indicating the involvement of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGFR), Toll-like receptors (TLR) and signal transduction pathways mediated by protein kinase B (PKB or AKT), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) will also be summarized. The need for further research is clear, but in vivo experiments point to an overall antiinflammatory effect of these algae, indicating that they can reinforce membrane barrier function.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.