A Comparative Review of Alternative Fucoidan Extraction Techniques from Seaweed

The review examines various fucoidan extraction techniques from brown seaweed, highlighting challenges in correlating methods with fucoidan's chemical and bioactive properties. It identifies inconsistencies in literature reporting, complicating comparisons of techniques. A holistic framework is proposed for selecting methods, considering scale, cost, and constraints, and emphasizes standardizing data reporting to enhance understanding of extraction-bioactivity relationships. The review compares traditional and novel methods like enzyme-assisted, ultrasound-assisted, microwave-assisted, and pressurized liquid extraction, noting their potential to improve yield and quality while reducing energy and solvent use. It highlights the importance of considering the entire bioprocessing train for optimizing yield and purity. The study suggests that all methods can produce similar quality extracts, but a holistic approach is needed for method selection. Future research should focus on specific bioactive properties and mechanistic studies to enhance understanding of fucoidan's biological activities.