The science of fucoxanthinFucoxanthin is a carotinoid. A carotinoid is a naturally occurring pigment divided into two classes: xanthophylls and carotenes. They are found in green plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria. This particular substance is a xanthophyll pigment and not prevalent in red or green algae, but provides the main coloring in brown algae chloroplasts that absorbs light and helps convert it to energy. The substance demonstrates light absorption on the visual spectrum of around 450-540 nm (blue-green to yellow-green) and has the chemical structure C40H60O6. Fucoxanthin is not as effective at photosynthesis as is chlorophyll on the surface where there is an abundance of light; but has an exceptional ability to do so in the depths of the sea. For that reason, it is often seen as part of most deep sea organism requiring photosynthesis for survival. However, many varieties have gas filled bladders (pneumatocysts) to keep the organism floating at or near the surface of the water. Fucoxanthin, masks the pigments of Chlorophyll a and c, beta-carotene and other xanthophylls in brown algae. Complex polysaccharides, sugars and higher alcohols make up the food reserves. The principal carbohydrate being laminaran. Significant starch, compared to green algae, is minimal if not absent. The structure of the walls are cellulose and alginic acid, a heteropolysaccharide with a long chain.. Kelp and seaweed are high in fucoxanthin. They are not, as many unfamiliar with marine biology imagine, plants. Kelp and seaweed are related to algae. Brown algae may evolve into multi-cellular organisms having specialized cells, and their reproduction occurs sexually or asexually: both gametes and zoospores possess flagellated spores. We find no roots, flowers, leaves, or stems in algae. The kelp reproduction cycle occurs when mature flora release spores that affix themselves to rocks on the sea bed, mature to haploid gametophyte plants, and immediately begin sexual reproduction with an embryo attached to the female gametophyte, and held there by means of a hold fast. When the winds of Spring start to blow the surface water, cold water is stirred from the bottom of the sea and brings rich nutrients feed the plants with the extended sunlight: providing the ideal kelp growing medium. In contradiction to algae, kelp is most usually seen as a blade, stipe, and holdfast. Sunlight is absorbed through the blades (which resemble leaves), where fucoxanthin and chlorophyll convert the energy of photosynthesis into the sugars carried by the stipe to the rest of the plant. The anchor of the plant is the holdfast, which attaches to hard surfaces. Kelp is the largest of all agae and the only kind to have a differentiated internal structure. They are similar in composition but each family varies from the other in the straightforward design. Brown algae are categorized as being in the Phaeophyta phylum. Fucoxanthin-rich brown algae can be quite small filamentous epiphytes to larger varieties such as one hundred meter long giant kelp. Not all brown algae have been determined as edible. Brown seaweed is found in many Asian staples and perhaps the most commonly recognized in the Western world are Miso soup and the wrappers for sushi. A popular dish in the Orient is also Kombo. Brown algae, such as hijiki (Sargassum fusiforme), kombu (Laminaria japonica), and wakame (Undaria pinnatifida), are centric in the diet of East Asians. Fucoxanthin provides most of the nonprovitamin A carotenoid in this nutritional culture. While fucoxanthin has piqued interest in recent years, brown algae long ago was identified as having a colloidal gel name algin; which has widespread use. It is utilized as a stabilizer in commercial baking and ice cream manufacture, an ingredient in toothpaste, beer, paint, and bread. Kelp is known for its high levels of iodine. Research of late indicates there is reason to believe the brown algae may play a significant role in cleaning up polluted waters. As studies continue into the biology, physiology, and applications of fucoxanthin-rich algae, commercial applications will grow.
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