Seaweed polysaccharides & oligosaccharides: unlocking seaweed's power for agricultural enhancement
In recent years, seaweed fertilizers have gained popularity among users due to their safety, high efficiency, and eco-friendly characteristics. Seaweed, a type of low-level aquatic spore plant, is rich in polysaccharides. These polysaccharides can be categorized into four types based on their sources: brown algae polysaccharides, red algae polysaccharides, green algae polysaccharides, and cyanobacteria polysaccharides. However, seaweed polysaccharides typically have a large molecular weight, low solubility, and limited bioavailability, which reduces their effectiveness in medicine, materials, and other applications. This poses challenges for their broader utilization.
Seaweed oligosaccharides are degradation products of seaweed polysaccharides, consisting of straight-chain or branched compounds with a degree of polymerization ranging from 2 to 10. Compared to polysaccharides, oligosaccharides offer higher solubility and lower molecular weight, along with a variety of biological activities, including cell structure protection, antioxidant effects, growth promotion, plant resistance induction, and product freshness maintenance. These characteristics give seaweed oligosaccharides unique advantages for applications in agriculture, medicine, food, and the chemical industry.
HOW MANY TYPES OF SEAWEED OLIGOSACCHARIDES ARE THERE?
1. FUCOIDAN OLIGOSACCHARIDES (FOS)
Fucoidan, also known as fucoidan sulfate, is mainly derived from algae plants such as kelp and fucus, as well as marine animals such as sea cucumbers and sea urchins. The oligosaccharide product obtained after fucoidan is degraded is called fucoidan oligosaccharide. Fucoidan oligosaccharides have multiple biological activities and are becoming a new favorite in the development of a new generation of natural functional health foods, drugs, and cosmetics.
2. AGAROSE (AGOS)
Agar, a linear polysaccharide extracted from red algae like Gracilaria and Gelidium, consists of relatively small molecular weight oligosaccharides that are easily degraded and absorbed. Research indicates that agar oligosaccharides can inhibit angiogenesis by promoting apoptosis in human venous endothelial cells, while also regulating immune functions through cytokine expression.
These oligosaccharides exhibit multiple biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and anti-chemical properties, and are effective in promoting root growth. When incorporated into seaweed extract liquid fertilizer, agar oligosaccharides enhance the overall efficacy of the product, providing valuable nutrients and growth-promoting benefits for plants, thereby supporting robust agricultural practices.
3. CARRAGEENAN OLIGOSACCHARIDES (COS)
Carrageenan is a general term for a type of sulfated linear polysaccharide extracted from the cell walls of red algae plants (Gracilaria, Gelidium, and capillaris). Carrageenan oligosaccharides have large molecular weight, high viscosity, and complex spatial structure. They have antiviral activity and can significantly inhibit the proliferation of influenza virus (H1N1).
4. ALGAE OLIGOSACCHARIDE（AOS）
Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) are small molecule active substances derived from macromolecular alginic acid, with a polymerization degree of less than 20. They can be obtained through various degradation methods, including acid, enzyme, and oxidative degradation. Compared to alginic acid, AOS boasts superior water solubility, easy absorption, high stability, and safety, making it non-toxic to plants and beneficial for their growth.
FUNCTIONS OF SEAWEED EXTRACT
SEAWEED EXTRACT PRODUCT RECOMMENDATION
Seaweed extract fertilizers play an increasingly important role in modern agriculture. Their unique ingredients and biological activities provide comprehensive support and promotion for crop growth.
As a senior seaweed extract fertilizer manufacturer, GREENFOR ensures the high purity and activity of seaweed polysaccharides and seaweed oligosaccharides with superb extraction and processing technology. Our seaweed extract product series has different content options, including 40%, 25%, 18% and other specifications. In particular, the hollow particle technology we currently use is in a leading position in China.
Whether it is applied to field crops or horticultural plants, our seaweed extract fertilizer can significantly improve the quality and yield of crops, making an important contribution to the development of sustainable agriculture.
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