report, microalgae produce a variety of compounds which are approximately ten
times higher than any well-studied organism. Thus, more microalgae should be
explored for the extraction of natural bioactive compounds as these can prove to
Table 1 Different bioactive compounds extracted in algae
[A] Polysaccharide
[B] Pigments
Cellulose
Laminarin
Fucoidan
Agar
Alginate
Carrageenan
Porphyran
Xylan
Amylose
Amylopectin
Phycocyanin
Phycoerythrin
Chlorophyll a, b, c
β-Carotene
α-Carotene
Fucoxanthin
Astaxanthin
Lutein
[C] Growth-promoting compounds
[D] Other compounds
Fucosterol
Ergosterol
Cholesterol
Ethylene
Cytokine
Auxin
Gibberellin
Abscisic acid
Polyamines
Vitamins
Carotenoids
Polyphenols
Polyunsaturated fatty acids
Minerals
Diterpenes
Proteins
Table 2 Biological activity
of different bioactive compounds extracted from algae
Biological activity/property
Bioactive compounds
Antibacterial
Polyphenols
Polyunsaturated fatty acids
Proteins
Pigments
Antitumors
Polysaccharide
Polyphenols
Carotenoids
Antifungal
Polyunsaturated fatty acids
Diterpenes
Proteins and pigments
Anti-inflammatory
Polysaccharides
Proteins
Sterols
Carotenoids
Antioxidative
Polyunsaturated fatty acids
Polysaccharide
Proteins
Polyphenols
Carotenoid
Glutathione
Tocopherol
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