8.7 Applications
185
2016; Lopes et al. 2017) among others. These antiviral activities have been tested on
viruses such as influenza, herpes simplex, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, avian
influenza, dengue, Newcastle disease, dengue, West Nile and others (Kidgell et al.
2019). Thus far, much of the studies on the antiviral activity of ulvans have been
carried out in cell cultures and on mice models.
8.8 Commercial Production
Starting in the early twenty-first century to date, commercial agal farming has gained
much attention from researchers, government and venture capitalists. The interest
in algae ranges from biofuel production from algae oil, bioethanol production from
the algal biomass, water remediation and extraction of the various bioactives for
pharmaceutical applications. All with the promise of largely profitable algae are
based on commercial venture.
Ulvan, being one of the polysaccharides produced by green algae, has potential
commercial application in food and pharmaceutics with the applications as discussed
in earlier sections within this chapter. However, commercial production of ulvan is
presently still at its infancy due to limitations in the commercially feasible extraction
methods to obtain uniform standard extracts.
Commercial ulvan production would benefit from the relatively high productivity
of the Ulva green algae, if well managed. One of such fast-growing species that has
high nutrient uptake rate is the U. prolifera (Zhang et al. 2019). Ulvan is the most
valuable polysaccharide of the Ulva green algae, and therefore, the main incentive
for commercial cultivation and processing of these green algae is either as food or
to extract ulvan. Presently, the use as food seems to gain precedence owing to it
being a less complex option in terms of finance and process technology. Consumed
as food, the Ulva already is known for improving gastrointestinal health and prevention of certain chronic diseases (Kidgell et al. 2019). However, extraction of
the sulfated polysaccharide to which these health benefits are attributed results in
improved effectiveness and development of more effective derivatives. As processes
to extract purer and more uniform ulvan samples further develop this could encourage more commercialization of ulvan-based products for personal care and clinical
applications.
8.9 Conclusion
The ulvan producing green algae species are readily available and highly productive.
The cultivation of these species comes with the risk of propagating or contributing to
existing algae blooms. On the other hand, well-managed recovery of Ulva from the
wild or cultivation in well-managed systems can benefit from the rapid growth rate of
these species for ulvan production. Ulvans have the bioactive properties associated
185
2016; Lopes et al. 2017) among others. These antiviral activities have been tested on
viruses such as influenza, herpes simplex, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, avian
influenza, dengue, Newcastle disease, dengue, West Nile and others (Kidgell et al.
2019). Thus far, much of the studies on the antiviral activity of ulvans have been
carried out in cell cultures and on mice models.
8.8 Commercial Production
Starting in the early twenty-first century to date, commercial agal farming has gained
much attention from researchers, government and venture capitalists. The interest
in algae ranges from biofuel production from algae oil, bioethanol production from
the algal biomass, water remediation and extraction of the various bioactives for
pharmaceutical applications. All with the promise of largely profitable algae are
based on commercial venture.
Ulvan, being one of the polysaccharides produced by green algae, has potential
commercial application in food and pharmaceutics with the applications as discussed
in earlier sections within this chapter. However, commercial production of ulvan is
presently still at its infancy due to limitations in the commercially feasible extraction
methods to obtain uniform standard extracts.
Commercial ulvan production would benefit from the relatively high productivity
of the Ulva green algae, if well managed. One of such fast-growing species that has
high nutrient uptake rate is the U. prolifera (Zhang et al. 2019). Ulvan is the most
valuable polysaccharide of the Ulva green algae, and therefore, the main incentive
for commercial cultivation and processing of these green algae is either as food or
to extract ulvan. Presently, the use as food seems to gain precedence owing to it
being a less complex option in terms of finance and process technology. Consumed
as food, the Ulva already is known for improving gastrointestinal health and prevention of certain chronic diseases (Kidgell et al. 2019). However, extraction of
the sulfated polysaccharide to which these health benefits are attributed results in
improved effectiveness and development of more effective derivatives. As processes
to extract purer and more uniform ulvan samples further develop this could encourage more commercialization of ulvan-based products for personal care and clinical
applications.
8.9 Conclusion
The ulvan producing green algae species are readily available and highly productive.
The cultivation of these species comes with the risk of propagating or contributing to
existing algae blooms. On the other hand, well-managed recovery of Ulva from the
wild or cultivation in well-managed systems can benefit from the rapid growth rate of
these species for ulvan production. Ulvans have the bioactive properties associated