A comprehensive review on medical applications of microalgae

Microalgae, which are mainly autotrophic organisms that exhibit widespread distribution and rapid growth, have gained considerable attention in the past years. Various species of microalgae, such as Spirulina sp. and Chlorella sp., have been shown to exhibit excellent biocompatibility. Many active substances extracted from microalgae have been shown to exhibit diverse biological activities. Microalgae have led to an upsurge in research in recent years because of their multiple biological functionalities and low cost. This comprehensive review elaborates on the therapeutic effects of bioactive compounds derived from microalgae and the applications of microalgal biomass in biomedical research. In this review, the advancements in the research and application of microalgae in the context of disease therapies involving the cardiovascular, nervous, ophthalmic, gastroenteric, immune, skin, and oncological systems are discussed. Additionally, the intricate interactions between microalgae and probiotics are extensively summarised. Given their inherent attributes of high biosafety, multiple biological functionalities, and low cost, natural microalgae have emerged as highly promising biomaterials for disease therapy and clinical translation.