Algae Along Qatar Coasts Utilization And Future Prospects

Abstract

Most of marine algae have no equivalent on earth and therefore could be considered as irreplaceable sources of primary and secondary metabolites. This is especially the case for hydrocolloids from red and brown algae that are cultured and used at an industrial scale for food-processing (carrageenans and agars from red algae and alginates from brown algae are widely used as gelling agents and thickeners) but also for pharmaceutical uses (agar gels for culture of microorganisms). Others main applications of primary metabolites from algae concern pahrmacological activities, agronomic uses and cosmetic industry. Secondary metabolites form marine algae are also widely used, especially as source of fine chemicals such as antibiotics, vitamins, antioxidants and binders for radioelements. Most of algae from Arabian Gulf are known and recent publications are available. Many of them are presented according to the marine biodiversity of the whole region and according to the main orders with a usable point of view. Studies on primary and secondary metabolites of some algae from Qatar coasts are in progress. Potential applications of some compounds isolated from red and brown algae from Qatar are presented and discussed along with potential applications of other species available on Qatar coasts but not yet studied.