Marine Bioprospecting: Seaweeds for Industrial Molecules

Seaweeds, the superfood of the century, is nutrient-dense sea vegetables that offer a sustainable and affordable source of nutrition and bioactive components. Seaweeds and its derivatives are not only used as a source of food but also exploited on an industrial scale. Over the years, the application of seaweeds has transitioned from simple food sources in the maritime community to potential industrial molecules in full-fledged and self-standing industry. These days, the active ingredients from seaweeds find application in the cosmetic, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and health supplements, bio medicals, indigestion remedies, biofuels, and several other products. An efficient extraction method and isolation platform should be adopted to optimize the recovery of the functional compounds and maximize the efficiency of the target molecule. This book chapter provides a remarkable insight into the high value, and multimodal activity profile of seaweed extracts or seaweeds derived molecule, especially industrial molecule, that are supported by bona fide research.