Application of enzyme-assisted extraction on the brown seaweed Fucus vesiculosus Linnaeus (Ochrophyta, Fucaceae) to produce extracts for a sustainable agriculture
Manon Choulot, Chirelle Jabbour, Anne-Sophie Burlot, Lun Jing, Maja Wełna, Anna Szymczycha‐Madeja, Cécile Le Guillard, Izabela Michalak, Nathalie Bourgougnon
Abstract
Abstract The agricultural sector plays a crucial role in sustaining population growth and ensuring our well-being. However, as this sector faces numerous challenges due to environmental conditions and the increasing population, it is essential to identify natural alternatives that promote sustainable farming practices and protect the environment. Seaweed-based extracts have gained popularity in agriculture because of their numerous benefits for plant growth and health. This study focuses on Fucus vesiculosus Linnaeus, a brown seaweed species prevalent along the Brittany coast. The research involved comparing enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) with conventional aqueous extraction methods for the purpose of determining the effectiveness of EAE in producing enriched extracts that could have an interesting agricultural application. The results indicates that enzymatic extraction of F. vesiculosus significantly increased the content of neutral sugars by 34% and reducing sugars by 21% in the extracts, compared to conventional aqueous extraction (WE). Regarding plant growth regulators, the levels of isopentenyladenosine (iPR) and cis-zeatin (cZ) were enhanced by 6 times and 28 times, respectively, when using EAE instead of WE. Additionally, the total phenolic content was notably higher in EAE extracts, showing a twofold increase over WE extracts. Furthermore, the various extracts demonstrated superior antioxidant activity compared to raw F. vesiculosus powder. Thus, this study confirms that EAE is an effective method for enriching F. vesiculosus extracts with various compounds that can play a vital role in agriculture.