Algae Products and their Medical Applications

An individual activity of an 8th Grade Student in BioTechnology

1. ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Anna Margarita F. Pineda 8-Rutherford

2. HISTORY OF ALGAE
“The life of the planet began the long, slow process
of modulating and regulating the physical
conditions of the planet. The oxygen in today's
atmosphere is almost entirely the result of
photosynthetic living, which had its start with the
appearance of blue-green algae among the
microorganisms.”
-Lewis Thomas

3. WHAT IS ALGAE?
· Large, successful group
of organisms, flourish in
sea



· Can produce foods
(sugars) from the sun



· Kingdom Protista

4. WHAT IS ALGAE?
· Base of the aquatic food
chain



·Its growth is a natural
occurrence in all water
bodies



· Reproduces rapidly

on hot weather

5. ALGAE PURPOSE
Marine Food and Medicine
Blue-Green Global Carbon and Nitrogen Budgets
Red Coral Reefs
Green Capture light energy to produce sugar
TYPES OF ALGAE AND PURPOSES

6. HARMFUL ALGAE

7. ADVANTAGES
1.Algae Grow Fast



2. Algae Can Have High Biofuel Yields



3. Algae Consume CO2



4. Algae Do Not Compete With Agriculture
5. Purify Wastewaters

8. ADVANTAGES
6. Can Be Grown in the Sea
7. Energy Source
8. Job Creation Engine
9. Produce Many Useful Products
10.Used for Fuel, Feed and Food

9. DISADVANTAGES
1. Costly

2. Difficulty in finding cheap 

sources of sterile CO2
3. Some species cause 

fish kills and contamination

10. ALGAL PRODUCTS
Different types of
Algae is used for
different medicinal
and health purposes.

11. ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Spirulina
➤Human and animal food or
nutritional supplement
➤Also known as: Blue-green algae
➤Commonly found in tropical or
subtropical waters with high salt
content
➤Made primarily from
from two species of cyanobacteria:

1. Arthrospira Platensis

2. Arthrospira Maxima


12. Spirulina
➤Weight loss
➤Attention deficit-hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD)
➤Hay fever
➤Diabetes
➤Stress, fatigue, depression, anxiety
➤Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
➤Treating precancerous growths
➤Boost immune system
➤Improves memory
➤Increases metabolism and energy
➤Lowers cholesterol
➤Preventing heart diseases
➤Heals wounds
➤Improves digestion and bowel
movement
➤Other health women’s issues
ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS

13. ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Chlorella
➤Considered a superfood
➤Important role in detoxification
➤High content of protein, vitamins
and minerals
➤Grows in fresh water
➤Mostly found in the US, Japan and
Taiwan
➤Made into powder, tablets, and liquid
extracts

14. ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Chlorella
➤Treats:
•Ulcers
•Rashes due to radiant treatment
•Trichomoniasis
➤Prevents:
•Constipation
•Bad breath,
•Hypertension
➤Reduce cholesterol and asthma attacks
➤Relieve premenstrual syndrome
➤Promotes mental health
➤Increase energy

15. ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Beta-Carotene
➤Dunaliella salina
➤Group of red, orange and yellow
pigments called carotenoids
➤Marine microalga is a rich sourch of
beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, etc.
➤Also found in vegetables, fruits and
whole grains
➤Vitamin A

16. ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Beta-Carotene
➤Treats:
•AIDS
•Alcoholism
•Alzheimer’s disease
•Parkinson’s disease
•Depression
•Epilepsy
•Headache
•Heartburn
•High blood pressure
•Infertility
•Rheumatoid Arthritis
•Schizophrenia
•Skin disorders (Vitiligo)
➤Prevents:
•Certain Cancers
•Heart disease
•Cataracts
➤Reduce cholesterol and asthma attacks
➤For underfed women
➤Risk of sunburn
➤Increase energy

17. ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Astaxanthin
➤ Naturally occurring high-value
carotenoid pigment with excellent
antioxidant effects.
➤Causes the pink or red color in
salmon, trout, lobster, shrimp and
other seafood.
➤Protect cells from damage.
➤Improve the way the immune
system functions.

18. ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
➤Treats:
•Alzheimer’s disease
•Parkinson’s disease
•High cholesterol
•Age-related macular 

degeneration (AMD)
Astaxanthin

19. ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
➤Red algae
➤Reflects red light and absorbs blue
light
➤Food science, immunodiagnostic,
therapy, cosmetics, protein and cell
labelling, and analytical processes
Phycoerythrin

20. ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
➤Docosahexaenoic Acid (DCA)
➤Produced by the use of algae
➤Have gained considerable
importance due to their association
with the prevention and treatment
of several diseases.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids

21. ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
➤Cures:
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
•Depression
•Asthma
•ADHD
•Alzheimer’s Disease
•Dementia
➤Helps baby development

22. FUN FACT!
ALGAE AMONG POLAR BEARS?

23. ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
➤Seaweed extract such as the
wakame and hijiki
➤Brown seaweed
➤Found in much smaller amounts of
in red seaweed and green seaweed
➤Carotenoid
➤Performs a limited form of
photosynthesis
Fucoxanthin

24. ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
➤Cures:
•Cancer
•Diabetes
➤Weight loss
Fucoxanthin

25. ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
➤Substance that helps convert food
into energy
➤Powerful antioxidant made in the
human body
➤Basic cell function
Coenzyme Q10
➤Also known as CoQ10

26. ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Coenzyme Q10
➤Cures:
•Cancer
•Diabetes
•Genetic disorders
•HIV/AIDS
•Heart Conditions
•Muscular Dystrophies
•Parkinson’s Disease
➤Prevents:
•Eye disease
•Chest pain
•Asthma
•Chronic Fatigue
•High Cholesterol
•Treatment of chemotherapy 

side-effects on children

27. ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
➤Cell-wall constituents of brown
algae (Phaeophyceae)
➤Chain-forming
heteropolysaccharides
Alginates

28. ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Alginates
➤Reduce the amount of strong
chemicals such as:
•Barium
•Tin
•Cadmium
•Manganese
•Zinc
•Mercury
➤Lower cholesterol
➤Treats high blood pressure
➤Throat lozenges
➤Peel-off facial masks

29. Neuroprotective Products
•both micro algae and marco algae
•promote nerve cell survival
ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS

30. Drugs
•Algal chemistry has interested many researches in
order to develop new drugs
ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS

31. Antimicrobials, Antivirals, and
Antifungals
•both micro algae and marco algae
•exhibit antimicrobial activity which finds use in
various chemical industries
ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS

32. Human Therapeutic Proteins
•Pharmaceutical companies could substantially
reduce the expense of costly treatments for
cancer
ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS

33. POP QUESTION!
What makes Algae different?
•Algae is Eukaryotic, having a nucleus, which makes them
different from bacteria.
• Algae are very diverse among plants due to their cell
structures.

34. ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
• Osmoregulators
• Antioxidants
• Anti-microbial agents (antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoa)
• Anti-tumor agents
• Anti-obesity agents
• Anti-viral agents
• Anti-inflammatory agents
• Anti-adhesive properties
• Aid in the immune, cardiovascular and nervous systems
• Fibromyalgia, diabetes, and hypertension patients
• Degenerative diseases treatment

35. ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
• Skin disease treatment
• Fluorescent pigment (Immunoassays)
• Therapeutic delivering agents for heart disease, autoimmune
diseases, and cognitive decline, in the form of Dementia and
Alzheimer's
• Radioactive protection
• Medicinal purposes which include: sterols, toxins, proteins, amino
acids, MAA, etc.
• Cosmetics as thickening agents, water-binding agents and
antioxidants
• Anti-Cellulite agent
• Skin care, sun protections and hair care agents and as a treatment
for wounds, burns and bruises

36. ALGAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Thank you for listening.

37. QUESTIONS!
1. This is the base of the aquatic food chain.
A. Fungi
B. Protista
C. Algae
D. Sand

38. QUESTIONS!
2-3. Give 2 Advantages of Algae
4-5. Give 2 Disadvantages of Algae

39. QUESTIONS!
6. Which type of Algae is this?
A.Spirulina
B.Chlorella
C.Beta-Carotene
D.Fucoxanthin

40. QUESTIONS!
7. Which type of Algae is this?
A.Beta-Carotene
B.Astaxanthin
C.Spirulina
D.Chlorella

41. QUESTIONS!
8. Which type of Algae is this?
A.Coenzyme Q10
B.Alginates
C.Astaxanthin
D.Beta-Carotene

42. QUESTIONS!
9. Which type of Algae is this?
A.Phycoerythrin
B.Fucoxanthin
C.Omega-3 Fatty Acids
D.Spirulina

43. QUESTIONS!
10. How is Algae different from bacteria?

44. QUESTIONS!
1. This is the base of the aquatic food chain.
A. Fungi
B. Protista
C. Algae
D. Sand

45. QUESTIONS!
2-3. Give 2 Advantages of Algae
1.Algae Grow Fast
2.Algae Can Have High Biofuel Yields
3. Algae Consume CO2
4.Algae Do Not Compete With Agriculture
5.Purify Wastewaters
6. Can Be Grown in the Sea
7. Energy Source
8. Job Creation Engine
9. Produce Many Useful Products
10.Used for Fuel, Feed and Food

46. QUESTIONS!
3-5. Give 2 Disadvantages of Algae
1. Costly
2. Difficulty in finding cheap 

sources of sterile CO2
3. Some species cause 

fish kills and contamination

47. QUESTIONS!
5. Which type of Algae is this?
A.Spirulina
B.Chlorella
C.Beta-Carotene
D.Fucoxanthin

48. QUESTIONS!
5. Which type of Algae is this?
A.Beta-Carotene
B.Astaxanthin
C.Spirulina
D.Chlorella

49. QUESTIONS!
5. Which type of Algae is this?
A.Coenzyme Q10
B.Alginates
C.Astaxanthin
D.Beta-Carotene

50. QUESTIONS!
5. Which type of Algae is this?
A.Phycoerythrin
B.Fucoxanthin
C.Omega-3 Fatty Acids
D.Spirulina

51. QUESTIONS!
10. How is Algae different from bacteria?
•Algae is Eukaryotic, having a
nucleus, which makes them
different from bacteria.