Abstract

MANSILLA, Andrés; AVILA, Marcela  and  YOKOYA, Nair S.. Current knowledge on biotechnological interesting seaweeds from the Magellan Region, Chile. Rev. bras. farmacogn. [online]. 2012, vol.22, n.4, pp. 760-767.  Epub June 05, 2012. ISSN 0102-695X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-695X2012005000074.

This paper is a compilation of data from investigations made with marine benthic algae from the Magellan Region that have biotechnological utilization in human consumption or medicine or as a source of phycolloids or food supplements or animal feed. The most important Rhodophyta species are: Ahnfeltia plicata (Hudson) E.M. Fries for agarose production, Gigartina skottsbergii Setchell & N.L.Gardner for carrageenan production, and Callophyllis variegata (Bory de Saint-Vincent) Kützing for human consumption. The most important Heterokontophyta species are: Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) C. Agardh, and Durvillaea antarctica (Chamisso) Hariot for human consumption, alginate production, and as biofertilizer for agricultural crops. M. pyrifera is also used as a food supplement for salmon, chickens, quails, sheep and bovines and for biofuel production.

Keywords : agarose; alginate; carrageenan; The Magellan Region; subantartic marine benthic algae.