Nano-encapsulation strategies for enhancing stability, bioavailability and therapeutic potential of fucoxanthin

Abstract

Marine macroalgae are an important source of structurally diverse bioactive compounds with significant pharmaceutical potential. The South African brown seaweed Sargassum incisifolium produces several lipophilic secondary metabolites, including the carotenoid fucoxanthin and prenylated meroterpenoids such as sargaquinoic acid, sargahydroquinoic acid, and sargaquinal. Although these compounds show promising antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, their practical application is limited by poor aqueous solubility, chemical instability, and low bioavailability. Nanoencapsulation within lipid-based delivery systems represents a promising strategy to improve the stability and biological performance of such hydrophobic marine natural products.