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Like terrestrial plants, seaweed also undergoes photosynthesis and is considered an important source of oxygen.
Kappaphycus alvarezii is now the fifth most cultivated macroalgae worldwide, as it is an important source of carrageenan, which is widely used in the food industry.
Other major consumers of the algae are the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.
The following substances can be extracted from macroalgae:
Chlorophyll, β-carotene, essential amino acids (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and phenylalanine) and phytohormones (indoleacetic acid, zeatin, kinetin, and gibberellic acid), agar agar (vegetable gelling agent), carrageenan.
Kappaphycus alvarezii also has good antioxidant potential, which neutralizes harmful free radicals and protects cells from oxidative stress, slowing down the aging process and preventing diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
The algae comes in the following colors: red, green, yellow, orange, and shades of orange-yellow.
Over the years, Kappaphycus alvarezii has been introduced to Hawaii, Fiji, and Tanzania, among other places, and is now commercially cultivated on a large scale in aquaculture in many places.
In general, the price for dried, unprocessed algae ranges from $1.20 to $2.50, while processed varieties with higher gel strength can cost up to $4.00 per kilogram.
The thalli of the algae can reach a length of 30 cm.
The species name “alvarezii” honors Mr. Vicente Alvarez, a biologist with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, who became the first manager of Marine Colloids in the Philippines.
Synonyms:
Eucheuma alvarezii Doty, 1985 · unaccepted
Eucheuma cottonii Weber-van Bosse, 1913 · unaccepted (synonym)
Eucheuma cottonii var. erecta No authority known · unaccepted (synonym)cm
Kappaphycus alvarezii is now the fifth most cultivated macroalgae worldwide, as it is an important source of carrageenan, which is widely used in the food industry.
Other major consumers of the algae are the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.
The following substances can be extracted from macroalgae:
Chlorophyll, β-carotene, essential amino acids (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and phenylalanine) and phytohormones (indoleacetic acid, zeatin, kinetin, and gibberellic acid), agar agar (vegetable gelling agent), carrageenan.
Kappaphycus alvarezii also has good antioxidant potential, which neutralizes harmful free radicals and protects cells from oxidative stress, slowing down the aging process and preventing diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
The algae comes in the following colors: red, green, yellow, orange, and shades of orange-yellow.
Over the years, Kappaphycus alvarezii has been introduced to Hawaii, Fiji, and Tanzania, among other places, and is now commercially cultivated on a large scale in aquaculture in many places.
In general, the price for dried, unprocessed algae ranges from $1.20 to $2.50, while processed varieties with higher gel strength can cost up to $4.00 per kilogram.
The thalli of the algae can reach a length of 30 cm.
The species name “alvarezii” honors Mr. Vicente Alvarez, a biologist with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, who became the first manager of Marine Colloids in the Philippines.
Synonyms:
Eucheuma alvarezii Doty, 1985 · unaccepted
Eucheuma cottonii Weber-van Bosse, 1913 · unaccepted (synonym)
Eucheuma cottonii var. erecta No authority known · unaccepted (synonym)cm
