From Ocean to Medicine: How Seaweeds are Changing Healthcare

Mathew, Gicy and Khandelwal, Ashish (2026) From Ocean to Medicine: How Seaweeds are Changing Healthcare. Agriculture & Food e-Newsletter, 8 (9). pp. 191-194. ISSN 2581-8317

Text Agriculture and Food_e-newsletter_2026_Ashish Khandelwal.pdf Download (648kB)

Abstract

Some of the most promising therapeutic compounds are found not on land, but beneath the waves. Covering more than 70% of the planet, oceans are home to extraordinary forms of life, including coral reefs, seaweeds, micro and macro algae, which have supported the marine ecosystem and coastal communities for centuries as food and traditional remedies. Today, seaweeds are gaining widespread recognition as a natural reservoir of bioactive compounds with immense potential in modern health care. These compounds are rich in polysaccharides, polyphenols, and pigments, which exhibit a wide range of uses and biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, and neuroprotective properties. Researchers around the world have exploited the use of these compounds for developing safer and more effective therapies that can benefit the treatment of chronic diseases and improve overall health. Besides their health benefits, seaweeds play a meaningful role in nutrition; they even help with environmental sustainability, and they support the emerging blue economy, which makes them, in practice, one of the most multifaceted marine resources. In a way, seaweeds are already changing how we think about healthcare and sustainable medicine, from functional foods and nutraceuticals all the way to advanced medication delivery systems and tissue engineering. This article focuses on the surprising evolution of seaweeds from the ocean’s depths into the leading edge of biomedical innovation, and it highlights how these marine organisms are pushing forward the future of global healthcare.

Actions (login required)

View Item