title: Metabolites from algae with economical impact.
abstract: In order to survive in a highly competitive environment, freshwater or marine algae have to develop defense strategies that result in a tremendous diversity of compounds from different metabolic pathways. Recent trends in drug research from natural sources have shown that algae are promising organisms to furnish novel biochemically active compounds. The current review describes the main substances biosynthesized by algae with potential economic impact in food science, pharmaceutical industry and public health. Emphasis is given to fatty acids, steroids, carotenoids, polysaccharides, lectins, mycosporine-like amino acids, halogenated compounds, polyketides and toxins.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, PO Box 26077, CEP 05599-970, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Karina H M
authors.initials: KHM
authors.lastname: Cardozo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, PO Box 26077, CEP 05599-970, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thais
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guaratini
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul, CEP 08060-070, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, PO Box 26077, CEP 05599-970, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Falcão
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, PO Box 26077, CEP 05599-970, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angela P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Tonon
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Física e Química, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, CEP 14040-903, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Norberto P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, PO Box 26077, CEP 05599-970, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, PO Box 26077, CEP 05599-970, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Moacir A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, PO Box 26077, CEP 05599-970, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anderson O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, PO Box 26077, CEP 05599-970, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: piocolep@iq.usp.br.
authors.forename: Pio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Colepicolo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, CEP 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ernani
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pinto
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000191:economics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000191:economics; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000378:metabolism*; D019649:Food Industry / Q000191:economics; D005618:Fresh Water; D008386:Marine Biology / Q000191:economics*; D010933:Plankton / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011634:Public Health / Q000191:economics; D012623:Seawater
chemical_list: D001685:Biological Factors