Seaweed Flora of the European North Atlantic and Mediterranean 6.3 Seaweeds Biodiversity and Potential 79
Part A | 6.3
are a wonderful addition to natural cosmetic products.
Have antiviral [6.237, 238], algicidal [6.239, 240] antifungal [6.241] larvicidal [6.242], cytotoxic [6.242],
antifouling [6.243], antibacterial [6.241, 242, 244–247],
antioxidant [6.246] activity.
Ulva intestinalis Linnaeus
Synonym. Enteromorpha intestinalis (Linnaeus)
Nees.
Common Name. Gut weed.
Description. U. intestinalis is a conspicuous bright
grass-green seaweed, consisting of inflated irregularly
constricted, tubular fronds that grow from a small
discoid base (Fig. 6.10). Fronds are typically unbranched. They may be 1030 cm or more in length
and 618 mm in diameter, the tips of which are usually
rounded. Like other members of the genus, U. intestinalis is a summer annual, decaying and forming masses
of bleached white fronds toward the end of the season [6.1, 32].
Habitat. In sheltered as well as exposed locations, on
boulders, breakwaters and piers, in pools, also epiphytically; from the upper littoral (also supra-littoral) pools
into the sublittoral.
Distribution. More or less globally distributed: entire
Atlantic, Mediterranean, Caribbean, NE and NW Pacific, Indian Ocean, Australasia, Antarctica.
Uses and Compounds. This species is used as human food [6.4] and animal feed [6.248, 249], for
biomonitoring of heavy metals [6.250, 251], have antimicrobial [6.86, 96, 252, 253], antifungal [6.252], antitumor [6.254, 255], antihemolytic [6.253], larvicidal [6.256], antifouling [6.257], antiplasmodial [6.258],
antiprotozoal [6.259], algicidal [6.260], and antioxidant [6.261–263] activity.
Ulva lactuca Linnaeus
Common Names. Sea lettuce, Green laver.
Description. U. lactuca is commonly called sea lettuce. Its color can range from light yellowish green to
darker green, but is most commonly a vivid green underwater. When exposed at low tide or when washed
up on a beach, it is typically darker green. Out of the
water the seaweed looks like a rather slimy lime-green
mass but in the water the alga actually does look very
much like young lettuce leaves. U. lactuca is vivid
green and cellophane thin (only two cell layers thick),
and forms light yellowish green to dark-green translucent sheets. The soft frond grows as a single, irregular,
but somewhat round-shaped blade with slightly ruffled
edges which are often torn. There can be numerous
small holes or perforations scattered throughout. The
frond is connected to rocks with a small, almost invisible discoid holdfast, and does not have a stipe. U.
lactuca may grow to a diameter of 2030 cm, although
it is frequently much smaller, with larger sheets feeling slightly thicker than smaller specimens [6.1, 32,
264].
Habitat. From the tidal zone to the sublittoral, often
free floating in pools.
Distribution. U. lactuca is ubiquitous, common to
most shorelines around the world.
Uses and Compounds. U. lactuca is available in different forms from companies in countries which include
the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Vietnam, China,
Canada, and the United States. It is sold both in fresh
and dried form, in flakes, powders, and salad mixes.
It is a delicate seaweed with a mild flavor. U. lactuca
is sometimes eaten as green laver, but it is considered inferior to purple laver. It is used as a seasoning
by itself and in blends, and can be found in soups
and salads [6.32]. This species is also used in animal
feed [6.265]. It also a key ingredient in many cosmetic
and personal care items such as soap, lotion, toner,
lifting cream, eye cream, lip cream, makeup remover,
body polish, bath soaks, antiaging products, shaving lotion, shampoo, conditioner, and serums [6.264, 266]. It
is also a component in gardening and fertilizer products [6.3].
This species have antioxidant [6.267, 268], antibacterial [6.70, 72, 115, 145, 171, 228, 269–271], antitumor [6.72, 126], anti-inflammatory [6.272], antifouling [6.115, 273], antifungal [6.72, 115], antiviral [6.72,
263], antialgal [6.115] activity.
Ulva linza Linnaeus
Synonym. Enteromorpha linza (Linnaeus) J. Agardh.
Common Names. Breed darmwier, Bright grass kelp,
Welded green nori.
Description. U. linza is a large, ribbon-like species of
green seaweed that may reach up to 30 cm in length.
Part A | 6.3
are a wonderful addition to natural cosmetic products.
Have antiviral [6.237, 238], algicidal [6.239, 240] antifungal [6.241] larvicidal [6.242], cytotoxic [6.242],
antifouling [6.243], antibacterial [6.241, 242, 244–247],
antioxidant [6.246] activity.
Ulva intestinalis Linnaeus
Synonym. Enteromorpha intestinalis (Linnaeus)
Nees.
Common Name. Gut weed.
Description. U. intestinalis is a conspicuous bright
grass-green seaweed, consisting of inflated irregularly
constricted, tubular fronds that grow from a small
discoid base (Fig. 6.10). Fronds are typically unbranched. They may be 1030 cm or more in length
and 618 mm in diameter, the tips of which are usually
rounded. Like other members of the genus, U. intestinalis is a summer annual, decaying and forming masses
of bleached white fronds toward the end of the season [6.1, 32].
Habitat. In sheltered as well as exposed locations, on
boulders, breakwaters and piers, in pools, also epiphytically; from the upper littoral (also supra-littoral) pools
into the sublittoral.
Distribution. More or less globally distributed: entire
Atlantic, Mediterranean, Caribbean, NE and NW Pacific, Indian Ocean, Australasia, Antarctica.
Uses and Compounds. This species is used as human food [6.4] and animal feed [6.248, 249], for
biomonitoring of heavy metals [6.250, 251], have antimicrobial [6.86, 96, 252, 253], antifungal [6.252], antitumor [6.254, 255], antihemolytic [6.253], larvicidal [6.256], antifouling [6.257], antiplasmodial [6.258],
antiprotozoal [6.259], algicidal [6.260], and antioxidant [6.261–263] activity.
Ulva lactuca Linnaeus
Common Names. Sea lettuce, Green laver.
Description. U. lactuca is commonly called sea lettuce. Its color can range from light yellowish green to
darker green, but is most commonly a vivid green underwater. When exposed at low tide or when washed
up on a beach, it is typically darker green. Out of the
water the seaweed looks like a rather slimy lime-green
mass but in the water the alga actually does look very
much like young lettuce leaves. U. lactuca is vivid
green and cellophane thin (only two cell layers thick),
and forms light yellowish green to dark-green translucent sheets. The soft frond grows as a single, irregular,
but somewhat round-shaped blade with slightly ruffled
edges which are often torn. There can be numerous
small holes or perforations scattered throughout. The
frond is connected to rocks with a small, almost invisible discoid holdfast, and does not have a stipe. U.
lactuca may grow to a diameter of 2030 cm, although
it is frequently much smaller, with larger sheets feeling slightly thicker than smaller specimens [6.1, 32,
264].
Habitat. From the tidal zone to the sublittoral, often
free floating in pools.
Distribution. U. lactuca is ubiquitous, common to
most shorelines around the world.
Uses and Compounds. U. lactuca is available in different forms from companies in countries which include
the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Vietnam, China,
Canada, and the United States. It is sold both in fresh
and dried form, in flakes, powders, and salad mixes.
It is a delicate seaweed with a mild flavor. U. lactuca
is sometimes eaten as green laver, but it is considered inferior to purple laver. It is used as a seasoning
by itself and in blends, and can be found in soups
and salads [6.32]. This species is also used in animal
feed [6.265]. It also a key ingredient in many cosmetic
and personal care items such as soap, lotion, toner,
lifting cream, eye cream, lip cream, makeup remover,
body polish, bath soaks, antiaging products, shaving lotion, shampoo, conditioner, and serums [6.264, 266]. It
is also a component in gardening and fertilizer products [6.3].
This species have antioxidant [6.267, 268], antibacterial [6.70, 72, 115, 145, 171, 228, 269–271], antitumor [6.72, 126], anti-inflammatory [6.272], antifouling [6.115, 273], antifungal [6.72, 115], antiviral [6.72,
263], antialgal [6.115] activity.
Ulva linza Linnaeus
Synonym. Enteromorpha linza (Linnaeus) J. Agardh.
Common Names. Breed darmwier, Bright grass kelp,
Welded green nori.
Description. U. linza is a large, ribbon-like species of
green seaweed that may reach up to 30 cm in length.