From traditional medicine to medical innovation

Since Antiquity, seaweeds have held an important place in pharmacopoeias and traditional medicines all over the world. They are often consumed as decoctions or included in plant-based preparations, to treat gout, goitre, digestive or respiratory disorders, hypertension, diabetes or certain infections.

Today, scientific advances have made it possible to attribute to seaweed antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antitubercular, anticoagulant, antithrombotic and antiviral properties.

In France, there are around forty medicines containing seaweed or active principles derived from it. Alginate is used above all as an anti-inflammatory for the oesophagus, while carrageenans and agar-agar aid the healing of wounds. These three substances also share laxative effects.

Today, research still needs to be encouraged to open up new prospects in the development of active molecules. Seaweed has not finished amazing us!