Sargassum that reaches the Caribbean coast has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties
According to studies, the hydroalcoholic extract of sargassum samples collected in the region reveals its antiherpetic activity by inhibiting the replication of the herpes viruses HSV-1 and HSV-2.
SANTO DOMINGO. - The sargasso that arrives at Caribbean Islands has high antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory y Antivirals, which raises the opportunities for the development of new pharmaceutical products y Cosmetics from the macroalgae.
He said so Idania Rodeiro Guerra, Scientific Vice Director of the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICIMAR) of the Cuban Environment Agency, when giving the keynote speech “Obtaining bioactive molecules from plants and marine algae: principles and case studies”, as part of their exchange visit to Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC).
Rodeiro indicated that, regarding his antiviral activity, hydroalcoholic extract of sargassum demonstrated its activity antiherpetic al inhibit the replication of herpes viruses HSV-1 and HSV-2, which opens the way for the development of drugs for oral use or as a cream or lotion for the skin, becoming a new alternative to the management and use of sargassum apricots.
The information is contained in an article published by Rodeiro and his group this year in the publisher's prestigious scientific journal Springer-Nature, “Journal of Applied Phycology.”
In addition, the expert presented progress of studies carried out within the framework of the Thalassia project, financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA), of Cuba.
The conference was organized by the Sargasso Interdisciplinary Research Group, coordinated by the INTEC research professor, Ulises Jáuregui-Haza, who is also coordinator of the Doctorate in Environmental Sciences at INTEC. Specialists, professors, researchers and students from the university participated in the activity.
INTEC and sargassum
INTEC has been one of the universities that has led investigations regarding sargassum, among which can be mentioned “Chemical characterization of sargassum that reaches the beaches of the Dominican Republic”, which allowed the quantification of heavy metals present in the macroalgae; "Sargassum activated carbon: obtaining and evaluation for water decontamination"; In addition, the manufacture of a bio organic liquid fertilizer from sargassum, which until now has been used in the banana industry, with satisfactory results.
A team of engineers is also working on the development of the first Dominican satellite, Quisqueya Sat, which will have a high-resolution camera system to forecast the date, place and amount of sargassum that will reach Caribbean beaches each season. which will facilitate collection before arrival to the coasts and will reduce the impact it causes on tourism in the country and the region.