Green Seaweed Polysaccharides Inventory of Nador Lagoon in North East Morocco

Abstract

Nador lagoon in Morocco has a great diversity of seaweed species. Despite, this algae richness, no valorization of this biomass is envisioned. Currently, these seaweeds generate economic benefits through the extraction of polysaccharides. Caulerpa prolifera is the most abundant algae in the lagoon. It is characterized by sulfated galactans, which is a very important agent in stimulating macrophages cells, producing the inhibition of viral spread, and it has the osteogenic potential on humans. Ulva rigida and Enteromorpha intestinalis are the two most numerous and dominates green algae in this lagoon. These seaweeds have ulvan, which is used for the production of aroma or a sustainable alternative for gelatin in agroindustry. Medicine application, the ulvan of Ulva rigida and Enteromorpha intestinalis showed excellent activity of antithrombotic, antitumor, antihyperlipidemic, antiviral and anticoagulant. Codium adhaerens allows producing the sulfated arabians, which are used as a good inhibitory molecule of thrombin. Codium tomentosum contains the sulfated arabinogalactans, which gives the protection of gastrointestinal mucosa and the support of digestive health. Codium bursa has mannans, which are immunomodulators and the successful elimination of lipoproteins flowing in the human body. We showed that these seaweeds contain a large amount of high-value polysaccharides. So, the Nador lagoon is a deposit of algae polysaccharides.