A review of chemical diversity of Kappaphycus alvarezii: biological properties, health benefits, and food applications

Macroalgae are considered highly nutritious organism and are potentially used as a functional food. Additionally, macroalgae are rich in secondary metabolites that can be used to treat various diseases. Macroalgae can be regarded as one of the options for resolving numerous global health issues that have become increasingly concerning. Kappaphycus alvarezii, also known as Eucheuma cottonii, is considered for various applications. This potential arises from its high content of both primary and secondary metabolites. This review will highlight the metabolites and their implications for biological properties, health benefits, and food applications of K. alvarezii. This marine red algae species contains secondary metabolites, including terpenoids, chlorinated C20- cyclooctene and C23-cyclooctenyl, heptalenecarbolactone, and heptalenecarboxylate derivatives, along with various N-containing and other compounds. Additionally, it has primary metabolites such as fatty acids, lipids, amino acids, proteins, sugars, and polysaccharides. These metabolites contribute to various biological properties, including antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, antifungal, antiviral, antiinflammatory, and antidiabetic effects, rendering them valuable for health applications. Moreover, K. alvarezii holds promise in the food industry due to its nutritional content, which includes essential minerals, amino acids, proteins, x-3, x-6, and x-9 fatty acids. Recognizing this potential is crucial for maximizing the future use of K. alvarezii as a source of beneficial metabolites. Efforts should focus on isolating and characterizing these diverse yet underexplored compounds, which could provide valuable insights for applications in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and biotechnology. Keywords Kappaphycus alvarezii _ Biological properties _ Health benefits _ Secondary metabolite _ Primary metabolite