Sargassum – A Resource of Necessity

Abstract

Sargassum is large, edible, invasive brown seaweed which acts as a shelter for most marine organisms. It contains many essential compounds like proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins and fatty acid and also has many value added natural products for pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. As for as now the commercial cultivation of Sargassum was used mainly for the production of alginate. This seaweed is proved to aid as an anti-cancer, anti-diabetics and anti-obesity properties and antimicrobial activity against many human pathogens. The Sargassum sp. can efficiently absorb variety of heavy metals to protect sea environment. The emerging application of this seaweed is generation of bio fuel which will be a future fuel. Here we discussed the enormous applications of the marine macroalgae Sargassum elaborately.