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Effects of fucoxanthin on thermogenesis and lipolysis: the muscle (a) and the adipose tissue (b). Fucoxanthin plays an anti-obesity effect mainly by stimulating uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) expression in white adipose tissue (WAT). This protein, situated in the mitochondrial inner cellular membrane, is usually found in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and it is not expressed in WAT in absence of any stimulation. Physiologic bodily metabolism determines heat production: this process is named thermogenesis and UCP-1 dissipates the pH-gradient generated by oxidative phosphorylation, releasing chemical energy as heat. Fucoxanthin was found to promote not only UCP1 protein and mRNA expression but also β3-adrenergic receptor (Adrb3), which is responsible for lipolysis and thermogenesis. This increased sensitivity to sympathetic nerve stimulation may lead to a further up-regulation of fat oxidation in WAT. This adaptive thermogenesis plays a crucial role in energy expenditure as heat, in order to limit weight gain and to favor weight loss.
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Nowadays the global tendency towards physical activity reduction and an augmented dietary intake of fats, sugars and calories is leading to a growing propagation of overweight, obesity and lifestyle-related diseases, such diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome. In particular, obesity, characterized as a state of low-level infla...
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... adaptive thermogenesis plays a crucial role in energy expenditure as heat, in order to limit weight gain and to favor weight loss. Fucoxanthin was found to promote not only UCP1 protein and mRNA expression in WAT of obese animals but also β3-adrenergic receptor (Adrb3), which is responsible for lipolysis and thermogenesis (Figure 4) [35]. This increased sensitivity to sympathetic nerve stimulation may lead to a further up-regulation of fat oxidation in WAT. ...
Citations
... Brown seaweeds contains potential anti-obesity agents such as fucoxanthin, phlorotannins, fucoidan, and alginates [2]. Fucoxanthin reduces weight by affecting fat metabolism [3] and ameliorates fatty liver by regulating metabolic enzyme activity and stimulating fat oxidation [4]. Fucoxanthin exerts its anti-obesity effect through induction of Uncoupling Protein 1(UCP1) gene expression in the fat tissue and heat release, suppression adipocyte differentiation and lipid stores [5][6][7]. ...
... The review literature showed that the main HWE and EE components in algae are fucoxanthin, fucoidan, phlorotannins, and alginate [2,22]. Fucoxanthin isolated from the popular edible brown alga induces UCP1 expression in adipocytes [23], act as a potent antioxidant compound [3], regulates the PPARγ expression, and improves energy expenditure. Alginate also has a role in delaying gastric emptying [22]. ...
... Fucoxanthin, a carotenoid abundantly produced by marine diatoms, plays an important role in light harvesting during photosynthesis [15]. Beyond its ecological functions, fucoxanthin exhibits a wide array of pharmacological properties, including antiinflammatory [16], anti-cancer [17], anti-obesity [18], and antioxidant activities [19]. These properties have positioned fucoxanthin as a promising candidate for drug development. ...
Phaeodactylum tricornutum is a marine diatom with significant biotechnological potential, particularly in producing high-value bioactive compounds such as fucoxanthin and unsaturated fatty acids, which possess significant pharmaceutical and nutraceutical properties. However, the naturally low yields of these compounds present a major challenge for large-scale production. Methyl jasmonic acid (MeJA), a plant-derived signaling molecule, has been shown to enhance the biosynthesis of these metabolites in P. tricornutum. While transcriptional regulation has been extensively studied, the role of post-transcriptional modifications, such as RNA editing, in mediating MeJA-induced metabolic changes remains largely unexplored. RNA editing can alter nucleotide sequences, leading to functional changes in gene expression and protein activity, thus providing a potential regulatory mechanism for enhanced biosynthesis of target metabolites. In this study, we investigated the role of RNA editing in Phaeodactylum tricornutum under methyl jasmonic acid (MeJA) treatment, focusing on its impact on the accumulation of bioactive compounds such as fucoxanthin and fatty acids. We conducted a comprehensive comparative analysis of RNA editing events across MeJA-treated and control groups. Our findings reveal that MeJA treatment induces significant variations in RNA editing levels, affecting key metabolic pathways. Notably, two genes, Lhcr10 (Phatr3_J16481) and Phatr3_J43665, were identified as potential contributors to increased RNA editing enzyme activity and to energy metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis under MeJA treatment. These results provide a foundation for the discovery of molecular mechanisms underlying adaptive responses in P. tricornutum and highlight RNA editing as a critical regulatory mechanism in MeJA-induced metabolic reprogramming.
... Carotenoids, a structurally diverse group of over 700 organic, lipid-soluble pigments, are responsible for the vibrant yellow, orange, and red colours observed in various natural sources, including plants, algae, and some bacteria [72][73][74]. These pigments not only contribute to the vibrant hues observed in duckweed but also confer a wide range of physiological benefits, such as improvements in survival, growth performance, reproductive capacity, stress tolerance, disease resistance, and immune-related gene expression [75,76]. ...
... These pigments not only contribute to the vibrant hues observed in duckweed but also confer a wide range of physiological benefits, such as improvements in survival, growth performance, reproductive capacity, stress tolerance, disease resistance, and immune-related gene expression [75,76]. These pigments play a crucial role in the prevention of human diseases and the maintenance of overall health, owing to their antioxidant properties and their ability to serve as provitamin A nutrients [72][73][74]. ...
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the world we live in, because of the rapid global population growth and climate change (drought, extreme temperature fluctuations). People in developing countries need more sustainable protein sources instead of the traditional, less sustainable meat, fish, egg, and dairy products. Alternative sources (plant-based, such as grains (wheat, rice sorghum), seeds (chia, hemp), nuts (almond, walnut), pulses (beans, lentil, pea, lupins), and leaves (duckweed), as well as mycoproteins, microalgae, and insects) can compensate for the increased demand for animal protein. In this context, our attention has been specifically focused on duckweed—which is the third most important aquatic plant after the microalgae Chlorella and Spirulina—to explore its potential for use in a variety of areas, particularly in the food industry. Duckweed has special properties: It is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world (in freshwater), multiplying its mass in two days, so it can cover a water surface quickly even in filtered sunlight (doubling its biomass in 96 hours). During this time, it converts a lot of carbon dioxide into oxygen. It is sustainable, environmentally friendly (without any pesticides), and fast growing; can be grown in indoor vertical farms and aquaculture, so it does not require land; is easy to harvest; and has a good specific protein yield. Duckweed belongs to the family Araceae, subfamily Lemnoideae, and has five genera (Lemna, Spirodela, Wolffia, Wolffiella, Landolita) containing a total of approximately 36–38 recognised species. Duckweed is gaining attention in nutrition and food sciences due to its potential as a sustainable source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive compounds. However, there are several gaps in research specifically focused on nutrition and the bioaccessibility of its components. While some studies have analysed the variability in the nutritional composition of different duckweed species, there is a need for comprehensive research on the variability in nutrient contents across species, growth conditions, harvesting times, and geographic locations. There has been limited research on the digestibility, bioaccessibility (the proportion of nutrients that are released from the food matrix during digestion), and bioavailability (the proportion that is absorbed and utilised by the body) of nutrients in duckweed. Furthermore, more studies are needed to understand how food processing (milling, fermentation, cooking, etc.), preparation methods, and digestive physiology affect the nutritional value and bioavailability of the essential bioactive components in duckweed and in food matrices supplemented with duckweed. This could help to optimise the use of duckweed in human diets (e.g., hamburgers or pastas supplemented with duckweed) or animal feed. More research is needed on how to effectively incorporate duckweed into diverse cuisines and dietary patterns. Studies focusing on recipe development, consumer acceptance, palatability, and odour are critical. Addressing these gaps could provide valuable insights into the nutritional potential of duckweed and support its promotion as a sustainable food source, thereby contributing to food security and improved nutrition. In summary, this article covers the general knowledge of duckweed, its important nutritional values, factors that may affect their biological value, and risk factors for the human diet, while looking for technological solutions (covering traditional and novel technologies) that can be used to increase the release of the useful, health-promoting components of duckweed and, thus, their bioavailability. This article, identifying gaps in recent research, could serve as a helpful basis for related research in the future. Duckweed species with good properties could be selected by these research studies and then included in the human diet after they have been tested for food safety.
... Fucoxanthin is one of the major xanthophyll carotenoids contained in brown algae such as Wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) and Kombu (Laminaria japonica) (Haugan et al. 1995). It has a high commercial value in the global market, and is used in biological activities such as anti-aging (Kang et al. 2020), anti-obesity (Gammone and D'Orazio 2015), antioxidant (Foo et al. 2017), anti-angiogenic (Kang et al. 2020), anti-inflammatory , anti-cancer (Chen et al. 2019b), photoprotective (Pangestuti et al. 2021;Wijesekara et al. 2011), and neuro-protective activity (Silva et al. 2018). Unlike astaxanthin, fucoxanthin exerts more effective photoprotective activity after topical application since it hardly reaches an effective concentration in the skin following oral administration (Hashimoto et al. 2009). ...
In today’s fast-paced and image-focused world, the importance of personal appearance and personal care has increased significantly. As a result, there has been a surge in demand for cosmetic products. In particular, there is a growing interest in skincare products that contain natural ingredients. Seaweed, a diverse group of marine algae, has gained significant attention in recent years as a versatile and sustainable resource with numerous potential applications in the skincare and cosmeceutical industries. Seaweed, rich in bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, polyphenols, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids, offers a unique blend of functional ingredients for skin health. These compounds exhibit a wide range of beneficial properties, including moisturizing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-photodamage, and anti-aging effects. Seaweed-based formulations have demonstrated promise in addressing various skin conditions, including acne, psoriasis, eczema, and premature aging, making them valuable assets in dermatological treatments. Moreover, the utilization of seaweed in cosmeceuticals has gained popularity as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to synthetic ingredients. Seaweed extracts have been incorporated into a variety of skincare products, including cleansers, moisturizers, masks, and serums. These compounds provide hydration, improve skin elasticity, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and promote a more youthful and radiant complexion. This chapter explored the potential skincare attributes inherent in seaweed-derived bioactive compounds and extracts as cosmeceutical and dermatological ingredients. In addition, their various skin-beneficial properties and potential roles in skincare were also discussed based on scientific literature.
... The study found that fucoxanthin reduces body weight along with the weight of white adipose tissue [31]. The study is also supported by another study carried out in 2015 by Maria et al. [32]. ...
The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing worldwide. Common comorbidities related to obesity, significantly polygenic disorders, cardiovascular disease, and heart conditions affect social and monetary systems. Over the past decade, research in drug discovery and development has opened new paths for alternative and conventional medicine. With a deeper comprehension of its underlying mechanisms, obesity is now recognized more as a chronic condition rather than merely a result of lifestyle choices. Nonetheless, addressing it solely through lifestyle changes is challenging due to the intricate nature of energy regulation dysfunction. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has approved six medications for the management of overweight and obesity. Seaweed are plants and algae that grow in oceans, rivers, and lakes. Studies have shown that seaweed has therapeutic potential in the management of body weight and obesity. Seaweed compounds such as carotenoids, xanthophyll, astaxanthin, fucoidans, and fucoxanthin have been demonstrated as potential bioactive components in the treatment of obesity. The abundance of natural seaweed bioactive compounds has been explored for their therapeutic potential for treating obesity worldwide. Keeping this view, this review covered the latest developments in the discovery of varied anti-obese seaweed and its bioactive components for the management of obesity.
... As outlined by Park et al. [21], heightened oxidative stress has been linked to increased lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Therefore, our hypothesis was that carotenoids derived from gac fruits possess antioxidant properties capable of effectively hindering the adipogenic process in 3T3-L1 cells, drawing on previous findings related to fucoxanthin sourced from brown algae [16][17][18][19][20]. ...
Gac fruit, scientifically known as Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour) Spreng, is rich in potent bioactive compounds, particularly carotenoids such as β-carotene, lycopene, and lutein. This study investigated the effects of gac fruit extract fractions (peel, pulp, and aril) on the scavenging, cytotoxic, and anti-adipogenic activities in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The study assessed the DPPH radical scavenging activity of gac extracts through serial dilution at a concentration of 1000 µg/mL. The viability of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes was measured using the MTT assay. Differentiated adipocytes were treated with gac extracts at concentrations of 75, 150, and 300 µg/mL for 7 days. The impact on lipid accumulation and adipogenesis inhibition was determined through Oil Red O staining and triglyceride content analysis. The IC50 values for DPPH radical scavenging were 573.40 µg/mL for peel, 525.46 µg/mL for pulp, and 817.33 µg/mL for aril extracts. No toxicity was observed in 3T3-L1 cells at concentrations up to 200 µg/mL. At 200 µg/mL, gac extracts reduced 3T3-L1 cell viability while promoting growth and proliferation. Treatment with gac extracts significantly reduced lipid accumulation and inhibited 3T3-L1 cell differentiation in a dose-dependent manner. Among the gac extract fractions, pulp notably decreased intracellular triglyceride content in adipocytes, surpassing aril and peel extracts. In conclusion, gac fruit extract fractions (peel, pulp, and aril) effectively inhibited adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, as evidenced by reduced lipid accumulation, triglyceride content, and cell viability. These findings unveil valuable insights into bioactive compounds from Momordica cochinchinensis and their potential for addressing obesity prevention and treatment.
... It is one of the primary carotenoids in marine brown seaweeds, diatoms and golden algae [23,24]. Recent studies have focused on synthesizing fucoxanthin using P. tricornutum and I. galbana, given its potential for beneficial activities, including anti-oxidation and anti-obesity effects [24][25][26][27]. Furthermore, the selection of industrial microalgae species with outstanding nutritional profiles is fundamental for the successful development of novel foods. ...
Microalgae are considered promising sustainable feedstocks for the production of food, food additives, feeds, chemicals and various high-value products. Marine microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Isochrysis galbana and Nitzschia laevis are rich in fucoxanthin, which is effective for weight loss and metabolic diseases. The selection of microalgae species with outstanding nutritional profiles is fundamental for novel foods development, and the nutritional value of P. tricornutum, I. galbana and N. laevis are not yet fully understood. Hence, this study investigates and analyzes the nutritional components of the microalgae by chromatography and mass spectrometry, to explore their nutritional and industrial application potential. The results indicate that the three microalgae possess high nutritional value. Among them, P. tricornutum shows significantly higher levels of proteins (43.29%) and amino acids, while I. galbana has the highest content of carbohydrates (25.40%) and lipids (10.95%). Notwithstanding that P. tricornutum and I. galbana have higher fucoxanthin contents, N. laevis achieves the highest fucoxanthin productivity (6.21 mg/L/day) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) productivity (26.13 mg/L/day) because of the competitive cell density (2.89 g/L) and the advantageous specific growth rate (0.42/day). Thus, compared with P. tricornutum and I. galbana, N. laevis is a more promising candidate for co-production of fucoxanthin and PUFAs.
... Fucoxanthin provides several health benefits, such as anti-obesity (Gammone and D'Orazio 2015), anti-cancer (Hosokawa et al. 2004), and anti-inflammatory (Tavares et al. 2020) effects, when ingested by humans. Therefore, fucoxanthin is useful in the food and cosmetics industries. ...
Fucoxanthin is a versatile substance in the food and pharmaceutical industries owing to its excellent antioxidant and anti-obesity properties. Several microalgae, including the haptophyte Pavlova spp., can produce fucoxanthin and are potential industrial fucoxanthin producers, as they lack rigid cell walls, which facilitates fucoxanthin extraction. However, the commercial application of Pavlova spp. is limited owing to insufficient biomass production. In this study, we aimed to develop a mixotrophic cultivation method to increase biomass and fucoxanthin production in Pavlova gyrans OPMS 30543X. The effects of culturing OPMS 30543X with different organic carbon sources, glycerol concentrations, mixed-nutrient conditions, and light intensities on the consumption of organic carbon sources, biomass production, and fucoxanthin accumulation were analyzed. Several organic carbon sources, such as glycerol, glucose, sucrose, and acetate, were examined, revealing that glycerol was well-consumed by the microalgae. Biomass and fucoxanthin production by OPMS 30543X increased in the presence of 10 mM glycerol compared to that observed without glycerol. Metabolomic analysis revealed higher levels of the metabolites related to the glycolytic, Calvin–Benson–Bassham, and tricarboxylic acid cycles under mixotrophic conditions than under autotrophic conditions. Cultures grown under mixotrophic conditions with a light intensity of 100 µmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹ produced more fucoxanthin than autotrophic cultures. Notably, the amount of fucoxanthin produced (18.9 mg/L) was the highest reported thus far for Pavlova species. In conclusion, the use of mixotrophic culture is a promising strategy for increasing fucoxanthin production in Pavlova species.
Key points
• Glycerol enhances biomass and fucoxanthin production in Pavlova gyrans
• Metabolite levels increase under mixotrophic conditions
• Mixotrophic conditions and medium-light intensity are appropriate for P. gyrans
... These antioxidant properties have been linked to prevent and treat various diseases, including obesity, cancer, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, inflammatory disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases, by reducing oxidative stress. Previous studies have specifically explored the effects of fucoxanthin, a carotenoid derived from brown algae, on adipogenesis (15)(16)(17)(18)(19). These studies have proved that carotenoids, including fucoxanthin, possess anti-obesity properties and can inhibit the adipogenic program in 3T3-L1 cells. ...
... Numerous studies have explored the anti-obesity activity of various medicinal plants and phytochemicals. Examples include tea catechin (23), phytochemical-rich vegetables (24), Spirulina (25), Orthosiphon stamineus leaf extract (26), Morinda citrifolia leaf extracts (27), curcumin (28), zeaxanthin (29), anthocyanin and carotenoid extracts from sweet potatoes (30), carotenoids (31)(32), fucoxanthin (15)(16)(17)(18)(19), lucidone from Lindera erythrocarpa Makino fruits (33), and other medicinal plants studied for their antiadipogenic effects (34). Carotenoids, such as those found in carotenoid-rich plants and Momordica charantia extracts, have been reported to exhibit anti-obesity effects through the inhibition of lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes (35)(36)(37)(38). ...
Introduction: Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour) Spreng, known as gac fruit, is rich in bioactive compounds like carotenoids (β-carotene, lycopene, and lutein). This study assessed the antioxidant, cytotoxic, and anti-adipogenic properties of gac fruit extracts (GFE) from different fractions (peel, pulp, aril), using 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Method: Gac extracts' DPPH radical scavenging was tested with 1000µg/mL dilutions. 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte viability was measured via MTT assay. Differentiated adipocytes were treated (75, 150, 300 µg/mL) with GFE for 7 days. Inhibi-tory effects on adipogenesis and lipid accumulation were studied through Oil Red O staining. Triglyceride content was quantified and compared to controls. Results: IC 50 values against DPPH radicals were 660µg/mL (peel), 560µg/ mL (pulp), and 820µg/mL (aril). 3T3-L1 cell viability was unaffected up to 200µg/mL. However, 200µg/mL GFE decreased viability, inhibiting growth. Gac extracts effectively reduced lipid accumulation and hindered cell differentiation dose-dependently. Pulp extract notably reduced intracellular triglycerides, surpassing aril and peel effects. Conclusion: Gac fruit extract fractions (peel, pulp, and aril) efficiently inhibited adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells, evi-denced by lowered lipid accumulation, triglyceride content, and cell viability. This study highlights gac fruit extracts' potential therapeutic use against obesity.
... One of the natural resources found in the sea is brown algae. The brown algae Sargassum polycystum contains the pigment fucoxanthin, which can be an antioxidant and antiobesity agent (Gammone et al., 2015). The dominant pigment from the marine biota'scarotenoid group is fucoxanthin,a xanthophyll group. ...
The brown algae Sargassum polycystumcontains the pigment fucoxanthin. Fucoxanthinis a bioactive compound useful for antioxidants and anti-obesity. An appropriate extraction method is required to obtain a high content of bioactive compounds with potential as antioxidants and anti-obesity agents.Themethods of maceration and ultrasonic extraction were used to search for bioactive compounds. This study aims to determine the effect of different extraction methods, namely maceration and ultrasonic, of the pigment Sargassum polycystum on antioxidant activity IC50 using the DPPH method and anti-obesity activity with pancreatic lipase enzyme inhibitors in vitro. This research was conducted using fresh Sargassum polycystum samples with two extraction methods, namely rapid maceration and ultrasonic, each for 20 minutes, using 100% acetone as the solvent. A TLC test was conducted to identify the fucoxanthin pigment, obtaining a standard fucoxanthin Rf of 0.69, and a Rf of 0.69 for both the maceration and ultrasonic extracts. The phytochemical screening showed positive results for saponin and steroid compounds. Antioxidant activity test IC50 DPPH method and obesity activity with pancreatic lipase enzyme in vitro, obtained yield percentage results from the rapid maceration method for 20 minutes of 1.20 ± 0.09, with antioxidant activity IC50 111.24 ± 0.17 µg/mL and lipase inhibition percentage 79.23 ± 1.99, yield percentage from the ultrasonic method for 20 minutes of 1.30 ± 0.11 with antioxidant activity IC50 79.65 ± 0.42 µg/mL and lipase inhibition percentage 92.35 ± 4.02. The best results for the effect of yield on antioxidant activity IC50 and lipase inhibition percentage are from the ultrasonic extraction method.
