Available online on 15.06.2025 at http://jddtonline.info

Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics

Open Access to Pharmaceutical and Medical Research

Copyright  © 2025 The  Author(s): This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the CC BY-NC 4.0 which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium for non-commercial use provided the original author and source are credited

Open Access Full Text Article   Review Article

Overview of Ulva fasciata: Its Distribution, Phytochemical Constituents and Applications in Health and Industry

Shivam Kumar Jhoomuck *

B. Pharmacy Student, GITAM School of Pharmacy, GITAM (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

Introduction

Seaweeds, sometimes referred to as marine macroalgae, are vital components of marine ecosystems and one of the possible marine resources^1,2. Based on their pigmentation and appearance, they have been categorized into three groups: Phaeophyta (brown algae), Chlorophyta (green algae) and Rhodophyta (red algae)³. Marine algae produce a variety of bioactive chemicals, including pigments, vitamins, phycobiliproteins, fatty acids, proteins, polysaccharides, phenols, and sterols. Numerous uses exist for these bioactive substances, such as antibacterial and antioxidant properties⁴. The morphological, physiological, and metabolic characteristics of microalgae make them adaptable organisms and have made them interesting sources for finding naturally occurring chemicals with useful functions^5,6.

Sea lettuce, or Ulva fasciata, is a category of green alga that is primarily found in and around coastal regions worldwide. It is especially well-known for its adaptability to different environmental circumstances, flourishing in intertidal zones where varying salinity and nutrient availability are frequent occurrences⁷. Ulva fasciata demonstrates exceptional morphological flexibility under diverse cultivation conditions. Ulva fasciata grows into undifferentiated tissue in axenic cultures (without bacteria) but eventually transforms into a tubular thallus; however, only in the presence of particular bacteria can it assume its characteristic foliose form, indicating that these bacteria are essential to normal development and spore discharge⁸.

Classification and Taxonomy of Ulva fasciata

Ulvaceae is an abundant growing alga on rocky shore⁹.

Global distribution of Ulva fasciata

Green algae, which belong to the genus Ulva, are found in many aquatic habitats and are widely distributed throughout the world's coastal regions¹⁰. With their widespread presence in coastal benthic habitats worldwide, Ulva fasciata, as a result, is a common dietary ingredient in many nations¹¹. Ulva fasciata and related species are major contributors to green tides in the tropical Pacific, especially in areas such as New Caledonia, where the discovery of ten new species suggests a high degree of variety and considerable potential for bloom production to impact the environment¹².

Research conducted in Jamaica Bay, New York, showed how widely distributed Ulva species, which is found in the Northwest Atlantic, are globally, with less than 1% of their genetic makeup varying between locations. Ulva's widespread occurrence is demonstrated by its capability to flourish in nutrient-rich settings, which are occasionally made worse by eutrophication brought on by humans. Numerous studies have shown that species like Ulva fasciata are able to control the nutrient cycle due to their ecological flexibility¹³.

Ulva fasciata is found throughout India's west and east coasts, particularly in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. The diversity of seaweeds is especially great along Peninsular India's southwest coast, where Ulva fasciata is one of the most often observed species. Its distribution over the Southwest coast is greatly impacted by physicochemical variables like salinity, temperature, and nutrient content, in addition to seasonal fluctuations¹⁴. In the Visakhapatnam coast's rocky coastlines and other underwater hard surfaces, Ulva fasciata was discovered to be predominante¹⁵.

Almost 90% of the world’s estimated 10,000 species of algae, whose production is estimated at 6 to 7 million tons, originate in the Asia-Pacific region. The southeast coasts of Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are home to a high diversity and growth of seaweed species¹⁶.

Seasonal Distribution of Ulva fasciata

The maximal proximate compositions of Ulva fasciata are lipid, protein, carbohydrate, moisture content, and dietary fibre. In addition, Ulva fasciata was found to have higher levels of protein, carbohydrates, and moisture during the spring season, lipids during the northeast monsoon, and the presence of dietary fibre during the summer. The northeast monsoon often displayed the most notable proximal content¹⁷. The seasonal pattern indicated the lowest concentrations of nitrogen and protein in November, with the highest levels occurring in spring and summer¹⁸. The fluctuation in the concentration of proteins in seaweeds may be ascribed to variations in seasonality and environmental growing circumstances¹⁹.

Amino Acids profile of Ulva fasciata

An investigation of the amino acid composition of Ulva fasciata revealed that it contains the majority of vital amino acids, such as lysine, valine, methionine, and phenylalanine. Ulva fasciata is notable for its elevated concentrations of important amino acids: threonine and tryptophan during the southwest monsoon season, and lysine in the northeast monsoon season. As a result, due to its high essential amino acid contents, it is a valuable nutritional resource^20,21,22.

Figure 1: Overview of amino acid profile in Ulva fasciata

Phytochemical Constituents present in Ulva fasciata

Metabolites produced by seaweed help defend against various environmental stressors. These substances exhibit antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antiprotozoal characteristics²³. The investigation of bioactive phytochemical amounts in Ulva fasciata revealed notable levels of alkaloid, carotene, flavonoid, ulvan, tannin, and chlorophyll²⁴.

Chemical profiling of Ulva fasciata extract by HPLC confirmed the existence of several phenolic and flavonoid chemicals that are well known to have antiviral and antifungal effects. Ferulic acid was found to be the next most substantial phenolic component in the extract, after 4-hydroxybenzoic acid. The substantial flavonoid found in the organic extract of Ulva fasciata was 7-hydroxyflavone, followed by rutin²⁵.

Based upon a biological evaluation of the crude lipids of Ulva fasciata, the alga displayed varying degrees of antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral biological activities. Total carotenoids, α-tocopherol, phenolic and terpenoid molecules are examples of lipophilic antioxidants that may be responsible for the antioxidant action²⁶.

Table 1: Overview of phytochemicals present and their biological activity in Ulva fasciata

Applications of Ulva fasciata in Health and Industry

With an extensive history in Asian countries, seaweed is most extensively employed for nutritional purposes and in herbal medicines³². The biological activities of algae are abundant and have potential therapeutic applications³³.

Figure 2: Overview of the benefits and Uses of Ulva fasciata

1. Antimicrobial Activity

Various kinds of phenolic molecules were identified in the crude powder of Ulva fasciata’s methanolic extract, as per HPLC analysis. The most common ones were Gallic and benzoic acids, but other phenolic molecules that were found included salicylic, cinnamic, vanillic, ellagic acid, and rutin. The presence of two hydroxy (-OH) groups in the ortho and para positions, carboxylic acid (-COOH), and a methoxy (-OCH₃) group at the meta position attached to the benzene ring, all of which seemed to be required for antimicrobial activity confirmed the extract's capacity to exhibit antimicrobial activity³⁴.

Gallic acid                                 Benzoic acid

Moreover, according to the GC-MS analysis, Ulva fasciata contains 54% of fatty acids, with saturated as well as monounsaturated fatty acids being the largest amount. Taking into account the chemical makeup of the available fatty acids and their potential to work as antimicrobial agents, which are closely related, the high concentration of these fatty acids found in Ulva fasciata’s methanolic extract further supports its antimicrobial efficacy^34,35.

1.1. Antibacterial Activity

Ulva fasciata shows antibacterial efficacy against all clinical and common bacterial strains when extracted in a wide range of solvents, which includes hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and acetone³⁶. Methanol and ethanol were found to be the most effective organic solutions for the antibacterial activity when the different Ulva fasciata extracts were tested against a variety of microorganisms, for instance, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae³⁷.

Moreover, Gram-positive bacteria demonstrated increased sensitivity in comparison to Gram-negative bacteria. They demonstrate resistance to antibacterial agents due to their outer membrane's hydrophilic surface, which is abundant in lipopolysaccharide molecules that serve as an impediment to the entry of numerous types of antibiotic compounds. The periplasmic space's enzymes, linked to the membrane, have the ability to degrade compounds that are introduced from the outside³⁸.

1.2. Antifungal Activity

A GC-MS analysis revealed 11 bioactive chemicals in the Ulva fasciata acetone fraction. The most prevalent substances were gamma Sitosterol, Didecyl phthalate, 1 2 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, diisodecyl ester, Cyclononasiloxane, octadecamethyl- and Phenol, 2,2'- methylenebis [6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl. The antifungal property of Ulva fasciata’s acetone extract may result from the action of a single molecule or from the combined action of all the potent bioactive chemicals that have been discovered as having antifungal properties³⁹.

      Gamma-Sitosterol        Didecyl phthalate 1, 2- Benzenedicarboxylic acid

1.3. Antiviral Activity

When administered to N. glutinosa tissues, the extract of Ulva fasciata inhibits the action of Tobacco mosaic virus, ranging from 57.92% (25 μg/ml dose) to 81.25% (100 μg/ml dose). These results lead to the belief that the extract from Ulva fasciata contains elicitor chemicals that either enhance the immune system's capability to combat TMV or prevent it from spreading. It can therefore be used to create environmentally safe, long-lasting antiviral treatments and as a substitute for chemical insecticides⁴⁰.

2. Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Rats administered with Ulva fasciata methanol extract demonstrated considerable anti-inflammatory efficacy. Rats' hind paws were injected with 0.05 ml of 1% λ-carrageenan suspension 30 minutes after the extract treatment. The 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th hours following the administration of carrageenan were observed. Since Ulva fasciata methanol extract showed a strong anti-inflammatory effect at the 3rd phase, 180 minutes after the onset of oedema, it thus appears that the extract functions by preventing prostaglandin from being released or acting⁴¹.

According to studies, flavonoids and tannins have anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, the existence of these secondary metabolites accounts for the anti-inflammatory activities of Ulva fasciata’s methanolic extract^42,43.

3. Antioxidant Properties

Ulva fasciata’s methanolic extract exhibits a concentration-dependent enhancement in free radical trapping. This may be caused by the different active phytochemical components found in the Ulva fasciata extract. Furthermore, the extract showed excellent superoxide quenching activity, which could be brought about by the phenolic concentration in the Ulva fasciata extract⁴⁴.

By quenching free radicals, the methanol extract of Ulva fasciata prevents damage to DNA. This could be due to the fact that some of the extract's components include proteins with antioxidant properties: anthocyanins, isoflavonoids, and phenolic chemicals⁴⁵.

Basic Structure of Anthocyanins           Iso-flavonoids skeleton

4. Anticoagulant Properties

Extracts of Ulva fasciata containing sulphated polysaccharides have been shown to enhance prothrombin time (PT) as well as activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) while preventing blood coagulation. Moreover, the manufacture of algal extracts is relatively inexpensive, and they do not have any harmful impact on cellular metabolism⁴⁶.

In addition, pharmacognostic investigations on Ulva fasciata’s sulfated polysaccharides demonstrated antithrombotic and antiplatelet aggregation capabilities⁴⁷.

5. Anti-Ageing Benefits

The SIRT, AMPK, autophagy, and IGF signalling pathways have been identified as among the primary anti-ageing-associated pathways⁴⁸. It is also known that variables, such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and the antioxidant protein expression regulator, influence the regulation of aging⁴⁹. Since NRF2 transcriptionally upregulates genes that protect against oxidative stress, its absence causes oxidative stress to remain unchecked, which in turn influences the ageing phenotype⁵⁰. It is reported that in IMR-32 neuroblastoma and LNCaP prostate cancer cells, extracts and certain fractions obtained from green algae strongly activate the NRF2-ARE pathway⁵¹. Isolated unsaturated fatty acid (C18:1(n-11)) from Ulva activates the cytoprotective genes controlled by the NRF2/ARE pathway, such as NQO1 and HO1, in human neuroblastoma IMR-32 cells⁵².

6. Anti-Diabetic Effects

In comparison to other seaweed extracts, marine macroalga, Ulva fasciata’s ethyl acetate extract has shown significant anti diabetic efficacy. Its strong hypoglycemic, alpha amylase-inhibiting, and antioxidant properties may be the fundamental cause of this notable activity. Comparing the ethyl acetate extract to other seaweed extracts, the hypo-glycaemic impact was the strongest. After the treatment, the plasma glucose levels of the treated mice significantly decreased, changing by 20% and 25% at 4 and 6 hours, respectively. At the greater dosage, ethyl acetate extract of Ulva fasciata has successfully reduced and normalized the blood glucose level. Even on the 6^th day of treatment, this impact was notably noticeable, and the glucose level was practically low⁵³.

Moreover, when compared to diabetic control rats, oral administration of Ulva fasciata’s aqueous extract substantially reduces the amount of body weight lost in diabetic rats. This observation demonstrates that the extract may play a function in restoring protein metabolism⁵⁴.

7. Cardio-Protective Effects

Seaweeds are a great source of bioactives with various applications, including in the area of cardiovascular-health⁵⁵. It has been shown that Ulva successfully mitigates the cardiotoxic consequences of a hypercholesterolemic diet because of its bioactive components. Enhancements in haematological metrics, leukocyte viability, cardiac oxidative stress, plasma biochemical indicators, and the atherogenic index suggest that the alga mitigated cardiotoxicity. The Ulva-supplemented hypercholesterolemic rats' hearts showed a significant decrease in the gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6⁵⁶.

8. Nephroprotective Activity

Ulva fasciata has shown a protective effect against nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin. The increased levels of oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory cytokines, kidney, and liver function markers were reduced, and the cisplatin-damaged cellular morphology was stabilised. Numerous bioactive substances found in Ulva fasciata may have a Nephroprotective effect on kidney damage caused by cisplatin. In addition, compared to its fractions, Ulva fasciata's ethanol extract has had a stronger protective effect⁵⁷.

9. Cytotoxic and Anti-Cancer Properties

Ulva fasciata's cytotoxic effects are most likely caused by its strong antioxidant activity and higher than average phenolic and flavonoid content^44,58. It was also demonstrated that Ulva fasciata’s methanolic extract has the ability to trap nitric oxide and superoxide radicals and has a protective effect on DNA sugar damage. Due to its strong antioxidant activity and phenolic and flavonoid content, Ulva fasciata has been shown to be useful in the management and prevention of cancer⁵⁹.

Furthermore, in a dose-dependent way, the green seaweed Ulva fasciata’s ethanolic extract substantially suppressed the growth of human colon cancer HCT 116 cells. Human colon cancer cell line called HCT116 is employed in pharmacological screenings and medical research. The extract's anti-cancer activities on HCT 116 cells are mediated by apoptosis activation, as demonstrated via changes in the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins, an increase in the permeability of the mitochondrial membrane, and caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation^60,61.

10. Use as a Functional Food

The consumption of algae by humans dates back thousands of years, as supported by archaeological findings from 14,000 ybp in Chile⁶². Due to the presence of functional food ingredients like algal proteins, amino acids, phenolic compounds, pigments, and polysaccharides, Ulva has garnered significant attention from the food and pharmaceutical industries in recent years⁶³. Algae are being consumed for purposes other than traditional nutrition and health, and the demand for macroalgal meals is rising globally. Seaweeds are regarded as "super foods" because they are very bioactive and include significant amounts of additional nutrients with both technical and health-promoting benefits⁶⁴. However, while various studies describe the potential nutritional or bioactive content of various algae, very few studies measure the nutrients' and phytochemicals' bioavailability in algal meals⁶⁵.

11. Production of Bioethanol and Algal Oil Extraction

Harnessing algal biomass to produce bioethanol is a sustainable and environmentally beneficial method of producing renewable biofuel⁶⁶. Studies have demonstrated how the marine feedstock Ulva fasciata, a green seaweed, may be used to produce bioethanol. In comparison to previous studies on agarophytes and carrageenophytes, the ethanol yield and low sugar conversion efficiency were somewhat greater. As a result, marine macroalgal biomass can be produced profitably in the world's great oceans and used as a feedstock for chemicals and energy⁶⁷.

The mixture with the highest oil extraction yield is a 1:2:1 volume ratio of methanol, hexane, and chloroform, and in comparison to other conventional methods, the supercritical fluid extraction technique yielded superior results⁶⁸.

12. Sunscreen Potential

Seaweeds produce water-soluble metabolites termed mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), which are UV-absorbing substances⁶⁹. MAA is a class of amino acids that is widely distributed in marine organisms, particularly seaweeds, to shield them from UV-induced photo-oxidative damage. The UV absorbance potential of Ulva fasciata’s ethanolic extract was evaluated compared to a commercial formulation. It has been demonstrated that Ulva gel loaded with mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) effectively blocks UV rays because it has photo-adaptive mechanisms that shield the gel from strong solar radiation. This kind of mechanism has the capability to scavenge radicals and initiate the creation of chemicals that protect against the sun⁷⁰.

13. Management of COVID-19 Activity

It has been demonstrated that the crude polysaccharides of the seaweed totally limit replication by blocking viral entrance in vitro, and they have the ability to impede SARS-CoV-2 propagation both before and after the viral infection⁷¹.

Certain algae species possess a diversity of primary and secondary metabolites, notably sulphated polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, proteins, fatty acids, amino acids, lectins, and pigments, all of which have substantial antiviral activities. After being evaluated in vivo, 3, 7, 11, 15-Tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol, a naturally occurring phytochemical in Ulva fasciata green alga, is a novel medicinal molecule that can be used to cure or prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections⁷².

3, 7, 11, 15-Tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol

14. Future Potential and Sustainability

The world population is growing at a rate that traditional agriculture cannot keep up with, and as a result, food demand cannot be met. One major nutrient that will be in short supply in the near future is protein. To satisfy the world's requirements for protein and enhance the nutritional quality of its population, alternative, unconventional protein sources and production techniques are therefore required^73,74. Macroalgae are becoming increasingly prevalent as an alternative source of protein. They have an outstanding amino acid profile that is on par with other traditional protein sources and are high in protein. Bioactive substances found in seaweed protein include lectins, free amino acids, peptides, and phycobiliproteins, which include, among others, phycocyanin and phycoerythrin³¹.

15. Emerging Applications

Recent studies have evaluated Ulva fasciata as a prospective bioresource for green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles like silver (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The nanoparticles possess excellent antimicrobial and anticancer activity due to their ability to generate reactive oxygen species and induce apoptosis in malignant cells⁷⁵. In a study published in 2023, it was shown that AgNPs derived from Ulva fasciata exhibited outstanding antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration values equal to that of conventional antibiotics⁷⁶. Further, Ulvan based surface-modified nanoparticles have also been engineered for drug targeting⁷⁷. 

Conclusion

Ulva fasciata, in the field of health and medicine, shows a powerful number of activities including focusing on antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-ageing activity, which argues that this macroalga is proving to be a useful source for novel therapeutic products and supplements in the near future. In addition, apart from the medicinal use, Ulva fasciata is being considered as a possible dietary source in the industry due to its nutritional value, which is likely to open a great opportunity for functional foods and dietary supplements. This makes it even more appealing for consumption as a food source since it is served according to individuals’ dietary nutritional needs of Proteins, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids as well as other bioactive properties. Further, Ulva fasciata has the potential for the production of bioethanol and algal oil, which is in tune with the increased need for renewable energy resources for the production of biofuel. Some of the important phytochemicals present in Ulva fasciata are used for UV protection, hence positioning it as a raw material in the manufacture of Sunscreen products. It also has its uses in managing COVID-19 since early investigations reveal that it possesses antiviral and immunomodulatory properties. 

Therefore, it can be said that Ulva fasciata has a vast area of application and utilisation in almost all sectors due to the presence of many active and nutritional substances. Thus, this review calls for more research in order to fully utilise the potential of Ulva fasciata across various domains for optimal sustainable exploitation of this versatile seaweed.

Acknowledgement: This work was done independently as part of my Bachelor of Pharmacy academic research. I thank my guide, Dr. G. Suhasin, Associate Professor, GITAM School of Pharmacy, for her support.

Conflicts of interest: There are no conflicts of interest.

Funding Source: Nil

Ethical Approval: Not applicable

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