| Abstract | Laminaria japonica Aresch. and Ecklonia kurome Okamura., the two most common members of brown algae family, are not only well-known as “longevity food,” but also as traditional Chinese herbal medicines that are used in China and other Asian countries to prevent and treat various diseases for decades. L. japonica and E. kurome are rich in iodine, alginate, fucoidan, proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, dietary fibers and phlorotannins, besides having various biological activities, such as anti-coagulant, anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, anti-virus, anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulant activities. Thus, L. japonica and E. kurome have been used widely as raw materials to develop a series of drugs, such as propylene glycol alginate sulfate sodium salt (PSS) and propylene glycol low molecular weight mannuronate sulfate sodium salt (PGMS), as well as food, for example kelp beverage. |
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