Algae as a Source of Pharmaceuticals

List of Contents

• Introduction
• Algae as a Source of Pharmaceuticals
• Companies Deriving Pharmaceutical Products from Algae

Conclusion

Introduction

Algae are a rich and varied source of pharmacologically active natural products. While the
pharmaceutical content in the baseline algae strain is very small, current market values for
these products are extremely high. The major products currently being commercialized or
under consideration for commercial extraction include carotenoids, phycobilins, fatty acids,
polysaccharides, vitamins, sterols, and biologically active molecules for use in human and
animal health. The upcoming sections will bring into focus the use of algae as a potential source
of pharmaceutical ingredients.

Algae as a Source of Pharmaceuticals

Pharmaceutical industry is growing at a CAGR of around 8% while the global pharmaceutical

market is forecasted to reach US$ 1043.4 billion in 2012.

Use of algae, especially the cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), for antibiotics and
pharmacologically active compounds has received ever increasing interest. There are a range of
pharmaceutical products derived from algae. Some of them include:

o Antimicrobials, Antivirals & Antifungals

o Neuroprotective Products
o Therapeutic proteins
o Drugs

1. Antimicrobials, Antivirals & Antifungals

Both microalgae and macroalgae exhibit antimicrobial activity which finds use in various
pharmaceutical industries.

Role of Microalgae

Microalgae, such as Ochromonas sp., Prymnesiumand a number of blue green
algae produce toxins that may have potential pharmaceutical applications
(Katircioglu et al, 2006)

Various strains of cyanobacteria are known to produce intracellular and

extracellular metabolites with diverse biological activities such as antibacterial,
antifungal and antiviral activity (Naoman et al,2004)

The biological activities of the algae may be attributed to the presence of volatile
compounds, some phenols, free fatty acids and their oxidized derivatives (Zornitsa
et al, 2009)

Role of macroalgae

There are numerous reports of macroalgae derived compounds that have a broad
range of biological activities, such as antibiotic, antiviral, anti- neoplastic,
antifouling, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antimitotic (Naqvi et al., 1980)

In the past few decades, macroalgae have been widely recognised as producers of
a broad range of bioactive metabolites (Caccamese et al., 1981)

Such antimicrobial properties enable macroalgae to be used as natural

preservatives in the cosmetic industry.

The highest percentage of antimicrobial activity was found in Phaeophyceae

(84%), followed by Rhodophyceae (67%) and Chlorophyceae (44%). (Noemi et al,
2007)

Red and brown macroalgae extracts show significant potential as anti-pathogenic

agents for use in fish aquaculture. (Wefky et al, 2008)

http://bit.ly/9ePcFb

2. Neuroprotective Products

Both microalgae and macroalgae are neuroprotective agents and promote nerve cell survival.

Role of microalgae

Among the various microalgal species, Spirulina is most commonly referred as a

neuroprotective agent

Spirulina platensis may be useful in the development of novel treatments for
neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson diseases.

Spirulina maxima is found to partially prevent MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6

tetrahydropyridine) neurotoxicity and oxidative stress, suggesting it could be a possible
alternative in experimental therapy.

Role of macroalgae

Several macroalgae are found to possess therapeutic potential for combating

neurodegenerative diseases associated with neuroinflammation.

A marine macroalgae, Ulva conglobata, a marine algae, has neuroprotective effects in

murine hippocampal and microglial cells

http://bit.ly/9Iu2P9

3. Human Therapeutic Proteins

Pharmaceutical companies could substantially reduce the expense of costly treatments for
cancer and other diseases produced from mammalian or bacterial cells by growing human
therapeutic proteins in algae. Microalgae usually find extensive use as therapeutic and
diagnostic proteins.

Role of microalgae

Expression of recombinant proteins in green algal chloroplast holds substantial promise

as a platform for the production of human therapeutic proteins

The percentage of human proteins produced in their algal cultures is comparable to the
fraction produced by mammalian cell cultures and much better than that produced by
bacterial systems

A study confirmed that diverse human therapeutic proteins could be produced in

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a green alga

Algae can be used to produce

o VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) for treating emphysema
o HMGB1 (High Moblility Group Protein B1) which activates immune cells
o Domain 14 of human fibronectin
o Domain 10 of human fibronectin used to increase the accumulation of other
proteins
o Human proinsulin could be produced by algae, but only at lower levels

The costs of using algae at large scale to commercially produce human proteins should
be much lower than for mammalian cell culture, which require expensive fermentation
facilities

http://bit.ly/cdvA9B

4. Drugs

Algal chemistry has interested many researchers in order to develop new drugs, as algae
include compounds with functional groups which are characteristic from this particular source.

Role of microalgae

Researchers have been able to produce an exciting class of anti-cancer drugs originally
isolated from blue-green algae

A compound named cryptophycin 1 has been isolated from blue-green algae which hold
significant promise as an anti-cancer drug

Microalgae produce incredibly potent alkaloidal neurotoxins such as saxitoxin and

polyketide neurotoxins such as the brevetoxins for use as anticancer drugs.

Role of macroalgae

The alkaloids found in marine macroalgae present special interest because of their
pharmacological activities.

These alkaloids in macroalgae are largely focused on finding drugs for cancer treatment.

http://bit.ly/cijvFA

Companies Deriving Pharmaceutical Products from Algae

 Rincon Pharmaceuticals - www.rinconpharma.com/
 Rallis - http://www.rallis.co.in/
 Monsanto – http://www.monsanto.com/default.asp
 Jubilant Organosys - http://www.jubl.com/
 Piramal Healthcare - http://www.piramalhealthcare.com/
 AstraZeneca – http://www.astrazenecaindia.com/
 Idec Pharmaceuticals - www.idecpharm.com
 National Facility for Marine Cyanobacteria - http://www.nfmc.res.in/
 Novo Nordisk India Private Ltd -
http://www.novonordisk.co.in/documents/home_page/document/index.asp
 Agri Life SOM Phytopharma (India) Limited - http://www.somphyto.com/
 Labprocure India Pvt Ltd - http://www.pharmaceuticals1.com/organisation/labprocure-
ind-pvt-ltd.html

Conclusion
The market for pharmaceutical products is growing quickly worldwide, and it is this global
scope that particularly attracts marketers. A growing proportion of today’s promising
pharmaceutical research focuses on the production of promising compounds from algae.
Thus, the untapped potential of algae in the field of pharmaceuticals has to be still explored
to grow and capitalize on tremendous global marketing opportunities