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The Korean Society of Phycology (한국조류학회(藻類))
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Review of Sargassum thunbergii (Fucales, Phaeophyta): phycology, chemistry, bioactivity, and application

  • Xueyu Wang (Department of Marine Life Science, Jeju National University) ;
  • Dandan Xiao (Department of Marine Life Science, Jeju National University) ;
  • In-Kyu Yeo (Department of Marine Life Science, Jeju National University) ;
  • Lei Wang (College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China) ;
  • Yiqiao Li (Department of Marine Life Science, Jeju National University) ;
  • Jia Fu (Department of Marine Life Science, Jeju National University) ;
  • Yunhua Fu (Center for Hematology and Immunology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University) ;
  • Suengmok Cho (Department of Food Science and Technology, Institute of Food Science, Pukyong National University) ;
  • You-Jin Jeon (Department of Marine Life Science, Jeju National University) ;
  • Fengqi Yang (Department of Marine Life Science, Jeju National University)
  • Received : 2025.11.10
  • Accepted : 2025.12.07
  • Published : 2025.12.15
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Abstract

Sargassum thunbergii is a large brown seaweed endemic to the Northwest of Pacific Ocean, widely distributed in the warm temperate coastal waters of South Korea, China, and Japan. It is abundant in resources and has a long history of application, widely used in food, medicine, and feed. In recent years, it has also been used to restore marine ecology. To date, only one review has been published on Sargassum thunbergii aquaculture. Therefore, by investigating the international definitive data repository (ScienceDirect, PubMed, Web of Science, ACS Publications, Springer, etc.) and collecting 92 kinds of literature closely related to phycology, chemistry, biological activity, and applications, herewith a comprehensive and systematic summary and exposition, enveloping the classification and distribution, botanical characteristics, and physiological and biochemical differences of Sargassum thunbergii; involving 7 chemical classifications of 117 derivatives substances embracing 12 new and 6 first-isolated excluding polysaccharides; mainly including 11 types of pharmacology in vivo and in vitro; evaluating the potential applications related on medicine, healthcare, aquaculture, and marine restoration. This review is expected to provide forward-looking scientific perspectives and act as a valuable reference for future studies, development, and utilization of Sargassum thunbergii.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by the Regional Innovation System & Education (RISE) program through the Jeju RISE Center, funded by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Jeju Special-Governing Province, Republic of Korea (2025-RISE-17-001).

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