6533b826fe1ef96bd1283524

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Biologically active compounds in algae and their application in plant growth stimulation

subject

description

In recent years the bioactive substances of natural origin gained more and more interest. Among such substances, the compounds isolated from microalgae and seaweeds, mainly the polyphenols, polysaccharides, plant hormones, pigments and fatty acids, an find an application in many industries, particularly in medicine, pharmaceutics, cosmetics and agriculture. Biostimulants from seaweeds have been used and manufactured for years, giving confirmation of its effectiveness in field trials, enhancing the growth of crops giving better yields. Nowadays, the legislation processes are more difficult and intricate, so it is harder to register new products. Everyone put more attention on the answers for the questions like: how does it really work, what is the actual active component, is it single substance or a group of them, what is the concentration of these compounds in the seaweed extract. So, basically the scientific proof is needed in order to verify the final product and fulfill the requirements in law regulations. Strongly developed these days fields of knowledge instrumental analysis and analytical chemistry will satisfy the curiosity and come back with the answer for all these questions. That is why, the analytical methods used for the determination of the active substances present in seaweeds, as well as the potential of these compounds in application, mainly as useful products stimulating directly and indirectly the plant growth in agriculture, are described in this chapter.