THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL AND NUTRACEUTICAL PROFILING OF SOUTH INDIAN SEAWEEDS: A REVIEW

Seaweeds with their widespread use in the food and feed industries, they are untapped as a neutraceutical and medicinal products despite their significant antioxidant properties. South Indian coast provide a suitable environment for the luxuriant growth of diverse species of seaweeds. Some of the economic important species are Gelidiella acerosa, Gracilaria edulis, Gracilaria crassa, Gracilaria verrucosa, Sargassum sps. and Turbinaria sps. In addition, seaweeds are the chief sources of commercially important agar, carrageenan and alginate. The diverse bioactive components of seaweeds and their nutritional, pharmacological and industrial applications for human welfare have been focus of this review.