ABSTRACT
As indicated in Chapter 9, the cell walls of seaweed contain polysaccharides, which include agar, alginates, carrageenans, and also minor compounds such as fucoidan and laminarin. These compounds can play varied functional roles by their ability to hold signi cant amounts of water, capacity to form gel, metal chelating, and other actions. These diverse functions have led to their applications in food technology, pharmaceutical sciences, biotechnology, etc. In addition, seaweeds are also sources of antioxidants, antimicrobials, and other bioactive agents. Their popularity also arises from their low cost in production and nontoxic nature.
