Studies on the development and characterization of bioplastic film from the red seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii)

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of anemic pregnant women is still reasonably high, especially in low-middleincome countries. AIM: This study was aimed to assess the effect of giving red seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii) biscuits on changes in hemoglobin (Hb) levels and body weight of pregnant women in the first trimester. METHODS: The study used a quasi-experiment pretest-posttest study design. The study was conducted from April to June 2021 involving pregnant women in the first trimester who living in the working area of the Wapunto Community Health Center, Muna Regency, Indonesia. A total of 45 pregnant women were selected purposively and assigned to three different groups. The first group was given two pieces of red seaweed biscuits per day. The second group was given two pieces of red seaweed biscuits plus Fe tablets (60 mg/day), and the last group was given Fe tablet only (60 mg/day). Chi-square, paired sample t-test, Wilcoxon, and Kruskal–Wallis tests were performed using SPSS. RESULTS: The intervention group of red seaweed biscuits plus Fe tablets had the highest increase in Hb levels after 8 weeks of intervention, followed by the red seaweed biscuit group and the control group (0.97, 0.78, and 0.60 g/dL, respectively, p-value < 0.05). The red seaweed biscuit intervention group had the highest changes for body weight compared to the red seaweed biscuit plus Fe tablet group and the control group (1.07, 0.43, and 0.04 kg, respectively). CONCLUSION: The provision of red seaweed biscuits could increase maternal Hb level and weight during the first trimester of their pregnancy.

Download Full-text

Preparation and characterization of red seaweed/calcium carbonate composite films

IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering ◽

10.1088/1757-899x/368/1/012041 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 368 ◽

pp. 012041

Author(s):

EWN Chong ◽

HPS Abdul Khalil ◽

T Y Ying ◽

HA Tajarudin

Keyword(s):

Calcium Carbonate ◽

Composite Films ◽

Red Seaweed

Download Full-text

Seaweed-Based Products and Mushroom β-Glucan as Tomato Plant Immunological Inducers

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines8030524 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 524

Author(s):

Paulo César de Melo ◽

Carolina Figueiredo Collela ◽

Tiago Sousa ◽

Diana Pacheco ◽

João Cotas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Enzymatic Activity ◽

Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase ◽

Lentinula Edodes ◽

Kappaphycus Alvarezii ◽

Red Alga ◽

Red Seaweed ◽

Tomato Plants ◽

Activity Of Enzymes ◽

Induction Of Resistance ◽

Fresh Tomato

The effects of the abiotic inducers β-glucan, extracted from Shiitake (Lentinula edodes), BFIICaB® (Kappaphycus alvarezii) and BKPSGII® (K. alvarezii X Sargassum sp.) on tomato plants infected with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) were evaluated through the activity of enzymes related to the induction of resistance at 5 and 10 days after inoculation (DAI). Tomato plants (21 days old, after germination) were inoculated with the pathogen conidia suspension and sprayed with 0.3% aqueous solutions of the inducers. The activities of the enzymes β-1,3-glucanase, peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) were evaluated in fresh tomato leaves collected at 5 and 10 DAI. In all treatments, peroxidase showed the highest enzymatic activity, followed by β-1,3-glucanase and PAL. Between the seaweeds, the inducers extracted from the red alga Kappaphycus alvarezii (BFIICaB®) promoted the highest enzymatic activity. The exception was BKPSGII® (K. alvarezii X Sargassum sp.) where the influence of Sargassum sp. resulted in higher peroxidase activity (4.48 Δab600 mg P−1 min−1) in the leaves, 10 DAI. Both the red seaweed K. alvarezii and the brown alga Sargassum sp. promoted activities of β-1,3-glucanase, peroxidase and PAL.

Download Full-text

Characterization of Hexose Oxidase from the Red Seaweed Chondrus Crispus

European Journal of Biochemistry ◽

10.1111/j.1432-1033.1997.00858.x ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 244 (3) ◽

pp. 858-861 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Barend W. Groen ◽

Simon Vries ◽

Johannis A. Duine

Keyword(s):

Red Seaweed ◽

Chondrus Crispus

Download Full-text

Enhancement in the Physico-Mechanical Functions of Seaweed Biopolymer Film via Embedding Fillers for Plasticulture Application—A Comparison with Conventional Biodegradable Mulch Film

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym11020210 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 210 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Hasan M ◽

E.W.N. Chong ◽

Shima Jafarzadeh ◽

M.T. Paridah ◽

Deepu Gopakumar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Contact Angle ◽

Calcium Carbonate ◽

Polymer Film ◽

Kappaphycus Alvarezii ◽

Composite Films ◽

Vapor Permeability ◽

Red Seaweed ◽

Mulch Film ◽

Biodegradable Mulch ◽

Biopolymer Film

This study aimed to compare the performance of fabricated microbially induced precipitated calcium carbonate– (MB–CaCO3) based red seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii) bio-polymer film and commercial calcium carbonate– (C–CaCO3) based red seaweed bio-film with the conventional biodegradable mulch film. To the best of our knowledge, there has been limited research on the application of commercial CaCO3 (C–CaCO3) and microbially induced CaCO3 (MB–CaCO3) as fillers for the preparation of films from seaweed bio-polymer and comparison with biodegradable commercial plasticulture packaging. The results revealed that the mechanical, contact angle, and biodegradability properties of the polymer composite films incorporated with C–CaCO3 and MB–CaCO3 fillers were comparable or even superior than the conventional biodegradable mulch film. The seaweed polymer film incorporated with MB–CaCO3 showed the highest contact angle of 100.94°, whereas conventional biodegradable mulch film showed a contact angle of 90.25°. The enhanced contact angle of MB–CaCO3 resulted in high barrier properties, which is highly desired in the current scenario for plasticulture packaging application. The water vapor permeability of MB–CaCO3 based seaweed films was low (2.05 ± 1.06 g·m/m2·s·Pa) when compared to conventional mulch film (2.68 ± 0.35 g·m/m2·s·Pa), which makes the fabricated film an ideal candidate for plasticulture application. The highest tensile strength (TS) was achieved by seaweed-based film filled with commercial CaCO3 (84.92% higher than conventional mulch film). SEM images of the fractured surfaces of the fabricated films revealed the strong interaction between seaweed and fillers. Furthermore, composite films incorporated with MB–CaCO3 promote brighter film, better water barrier, hydrophobicity, and biodegradability compared to C–CaCO3 based seaweed polymer film and conventional mulch film. From this demonstrated work, it can be concluded that the fabricated MB–CaCO3 based seaweed biopolymer film will be a promising candidate for plasticulture and agricultural application.

Download Full-text