11
1
School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Selangor Darul Ehsan,
Malaysia.
2
School of Pharmacy and Applied Science, La Trobe Institute of Molecular Sciences, La Trobe University, Edwards Rd,
Bendigo 3550, Australia.
* Corresponding author: snezana.agatonovic@monash.edu
The Cosmeceutical Properties
of Compounds Derived from
Marine Algae
Snezana Agatonovic-Kustrin
1,
* and David W. Morton
2
Introduction
Even though the ocean covers two thirds of the Earth’s surface, the marine environment largely remains
an unexplored source of bioactive compounds, many of which have been shown to possess new and
unique chemical structures. Marine organisms produce and secrete a wide range of biologically active
compounds that have a broad range of biological activity. Over the last few decades, marine algae have
been extensively investigated for their active metabolites and as a source of potential cosmeceutical
compounds. They can also be harvested economically as they are mostly found in shallow ocean water.
Marine algae are simple, chlorophyll-containing organisms with extremely diverse morphological and
reproductive features, that can produce a range of compounds with unique physiological and biochemical
properties (Li and Chen 2001). They thrive in extreme habitats resulting from changes in sea level due
to tidal effects along the coast that results in relatively large changes in light intensity, drying out at low
tide, etc. Like all photosynthetic plants, algae are exposed to light and high oxygen concentrations, which
encourages formation of free radicals and other potent oxidizing agents that have the potential to damage
cell structure and function (Sukenik et al. 1993). The absence of structural damage suggests that algae
are able to produce com pounds that protect them against harmful free radical oxidation (Matsukawa et al.
1997; Jiménez-Escrig et al. 2001; Lim et al. 2002). Seawater has a unique nutrient composition that is able
to support and help maintain cellular activity. The similarity between seawater and human plasma is so
close that white blood cells can live and function in seawater for a long time. The human body needs daily
replenishment of minerals such as calcium, magnesium zinc, and phosphorous. As seawater contains the
body’s ideal balance of minerals, it is the perfect medium for restoring such cellular levels. Many of the
minerals and trace elements present in seawater are important catalysts, able to activate cellular enzymes
1
School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Selangor Darul Ehsan,
Malaysia.
2
School of Pharmacy and Applied Science, La Trobe Institute of Molecular Sciences, La Trobe University, Edwards Rd,
Bendigo 3550, Australia.
* Corresponding author: snezana.agatonovic@monash.edu
The Cosmeceutical Properties
of Compounds Derived from
Marine Algae
Snezana Agatonovic-Kustrin
1,
* and David W. Morton
2
Introduction
Even though the ocean covers two thirds of the Earth’s surface, the marine environment largely remains
an unexplored source of bioactive compounds, many of which have been shown to possess new and
unique chemical structures. Marine organisms produce and secrete a wide range of biologically active
compounds that have a broad range of biological activity. Over the last few decades, marine algae have
been extensively investigated for their active metabolites and as a source of potential cosmeceutical
compounds. They can also be harvested economically as they are mostly found in shallow ocean water.
Marine algae are simple, chlorophyll-containing organisms with extremely diverse morphological and
reproductive features, that can produce a range of compounds with unique physiological and biochemical
properties (Li and Chen 2001). They thrive in extreme habitats resulting from changes in sea level due
to tidal effects along the coast that results in relatively large changes in light intensity, drying out at low
tide, etc. Like all photosynthetic plants, algae are exposed to light and high oxygen concentrations, which
encourages formation of free radicals and other potent oxidizing agents that have the potential to damage
cell structure and function (Sukenik et al. 1993). The absence of structural damage suggests that algae
are able to produce com pounds that protect them against harmful free radical oxidation (Matsukawa et al.
1997; Jiménez-Escrig et al. 2001; Lim et al. 2002). Seawater has a unique nutrient composition that is able
to support and help maintain cellular activity. The similarity between seawater and human plasma is so
close that white blood cells can live and function in seawater for a long time. The human body needs daily
replenishment of minerals such as calcium, magnesium zinc, and phosphorous. As seawater contains the
body’s ideal balance of minerals, it is the perfect medium for restoring such cellular levels. Many of the
minerals and trace elements present in seawater are important catalysts, able to activate cellular enzymes