Shanmugam Hemaiswarya – författare

Algae for Food: Cultivation, Processing and Nutritional Benefits

Algae are a primitive, living photosynthetic form and they are the oldest living organism. In the marine ecosystem, algae are the primary producers that supply energy required to a diverse marine organism and especially seaweed provides a habitat for invertebrates and fishes. There have been significant advances in many areas of phycology. This book describes the advances related to food and nutrition of algae achieved during the last decades, it also identifies gaps in the present knowledge and needs for the future. The 17 chapters, grouped into 6 parts, are written by phycologists. More insight on industrial exploitation of algae and their products is supported by current studies and will help academia. The first part explains new technologies to improve the microalgal biomass, strain improvement and different methods of seaweed cultivation. In the second part, food and nutraceutical applications of algae, food safety aspects, green nanotechnology and formulation methods for the extraction and isolation of algal functional foods are described. The third part deals with pigments and carotenoids while the fourth part exploits the isolation and application of hydrocolloids, nutritional implications of algal polysaccharides and the characterization and bioactivity of fucoidans. In the fifth part, the biomedical potential of seaweed followed by agricultural applications of algae are well described. The book is an important resource for scholars that provides knowledge on wide range of topics.

Key Features

Algae for Food: Cultivation, Processing and Nutritional Benefits

Algae are a primitive, living photosynthetic form and they are the oldest living organism. In the marine ecosystem, algae are the primary producers that supply energy required to a diverse marine organism and especially seaweed provides a habitat for invertebrates and fishes. There have been significant advances in many areas of phycology. This book describes the advances related to food and nutrition of algae achieved during the last decades, it also identifies gaps in the present knowledge and needs for the future. The 17 chapters, grouped into 6 parts, are written by phycologists. More insight on industrial exploitation of algae and their products is supported by current studies and will help academia. The first part explains new technologies to improve the microalgal biomass, strain improvement and different methods of seaweed cultivation. In the second part, food and nutraceutical applications of algae, food safety aspects, green nanotechnology and formulation methods for the extraction and isolation of algal functional foods are described. The third part deals with pigments and carotenoids while the fourth part exploits the isolation and application of hydrocolloids, nutritional implications of algal polysaccharides and the characterization and bioactivity of fucoidans. In the fifth part, the biomedical potential of seaweed followed by agricultural applications of algae are well described. The book is an important resource for scholars that provides knowledge on wide range of topics.

Key Features

This book summarizes the latest research trends in phytophenolic therapy for the management of diabetes. It discusses the various mechanisms of action of phytophenolics present in food, fruits and plants that can be used to control/reverse diabetic conditions. Further, it addresses the synergistic interactions of phytophenolics with anti-diabetic drugs, as understanding them can yield valuable insights for complementary and alternative medicine. In closing, it discusses the important aspects of nanotechnology-based targeted delivery and improving the bioavailability of phenolic phytochemicals, two major areas of research in phytotherapy of diabetes.

Plant extracts or their pure natural constituents have been used traditionally for thousands of years for treating diseases with considerable success in India and other Asian countries. In addition, they have also been used as complements or supplements with conventional medicine. This book discusses the latest research in the application of combination therapy, namely herbs and drugs, in the treatment of a range of communicable and non-communicable diseases to achieve a synergistic effect. This synergy may help in reducing the amount of drug, its toxicity, side effects, and development of resistance as well as improve its efficacy.  The book also discusses the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic parameters, experimental tools to determine the impact of combination, computational approaches to identify synergy, statistical analysis of data, and clinical and regulatory issues. The book is useful for researchers in the fields of pharmacology, pharmacy and medicinal chemistry andthose working in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. This book could open up new strategies to focus on multiple targets to combat complex diseases unlike the single targeted drugs that are being currently marketed by the pharmaceuticals industries.

This book offers a comprehensive analysis of microalgal cultivation methods and optimization of astaxanthin production for various applications, including clinical uses, algae polymers, proteins and pigments, food applications and packaging, algae forming, cosmetics, and more.

Microalgae are unicellular living forms and are the primary producers that play a major role in the ecosystem. Commercially, while many documents are available, some recent fields are yet to be explored. The book comprises 19 chapters contributed by experts and reviews the recent developments in the cultivation, harvest, and genetic engineering of H. pluvialis-derived astaxanthin. It also discusses their bottlenecks and challenges in commercial-scale production, as well as current and prospective global market. Current research supports the exploration of new topics and practical applications of microalgae and their products, which will also benefit academia.

The book will be an importantresource for researchers and industry, providing comprehensive knowledge on broad topics. Flow charts, updated methods, and colour images are included to help the readers'' understanding.