General Name: Sargassum
Family: Sargassaceae
Kingdom: Chromista
Phylum: Ochrophyta
Class: Phaeophyceae
Order: Fucales
Genus: Sargassum
Other Names: Sargassum was named by the Portuguese sailors who found it in the Sargasso Sea. They called it after the wooly rock rose (Halimium lasianthum) that grew in their water wells at home, and that was called sargaço in Portuguese (Portuguese pronunciation: [s????asu]) – from the Latin salicastrum.
Habnitat: Sargassum shows a diplontic life cycle without any alternation of generations. They grow in a warm sea of temperate regions.
Description:
Sargassum is a species of this genus of algae may grow to a length of several metres. They are generally brown or dark green in color and consist of a holdfast, a stipe, and a frond. Oogonia and antheridia occur in conceptacles embedded in receptacles on special branches. Some species have berrylike gas-filled bladders that help the fronds float to promote photosynthesis. Many have a rough, sticky texture that, along with a robust but flexible body, help them withstand strong water currents.
How Sargassum grows: As the Sargassum are brown-green algae, they enable photosynthesis through sunlight and convert light energy into chemical energy. which helps in the formation of glucose. These seaweed’s glucose will stay as the building block for its carbohydrates.
Edible Uses:
Sargassum seaweed is a nutritious food rich in carotenoids, cellulose, protein, and aspartic and glutamic acids. Sargassum seaweed contains polysaccharies, which support healthy bloody pressure and blood sugar. It has antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
As Asian countries have the most experience with eating seaweed, most of the approaches have an Oriental spin. Some Sargassums are consumed fresh, others cooked in coconut milk or a little vinegar or lemon juice. It is smoked-dried to preserve it. Sargassum is also eaten by itself or added to fish and meat dishes. They are used in several ways for example, in preparation of jellies, ice cream, and other desserts.
Medicinal Uses:
*Supports in blood pressure: Some species of sargassum helps in maintaining the blood pressure of the body. …
*Supports thyroid health: Sargassum is rich in iodine, thus it helps in maintaining thyroid gland of the body. …
*Anti-cancer health: Sargassum also helps in controlling cancer. …
*Acts as anti-coagulant property: It also helps in preventing coagulation as it helps in stopping blood from clotting.
Other Uses:
Source of agar: Sargassum is used for making agar which is obtained from several species. It can be also used for purifying liquids and in textile sizing. We can also use agar in preparing cosmetics, shoe polishes, shaving creams.
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargassum
