ABSTRACT
A marine ecosystem is an ample resource of biological flora and fauna, as the ocean is occupying the majority of the earth’s surface and is a habitat for a large number of species, from primary and secondary producers, large animals, to simpler plants called algae. The marine macro algae or seaweeds are rich sources for bioactive compounds with unique structural diversity and bioactivity. They are always found associated with shallow water, rocks, and, in some cases, they grow in low, deep seabeds. Seaweeds are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, minerals, vitamins, pigments, dietary fiber, and secondary metabolites, making them a versatile health-maintaining bioactive constituent exhibiting a wide range of treatments for microbial infections, diabetes, cardiac ailment, oxidative stress, obesity, cancer, and aging. Generally, seaweeds are cultivated for the extraction of commercially important phycocolloids, such as agar, alginate, and carrageen, which are widely used as stabilizing and solidifying agents in the food and cosmetic industries. With this wide range of applications, this chapter focuses on the importance of the biologically active compounds from seaweeds.
