Chondrus

Chondruss crispus Lyngb.

This seaweed, also called Irish moss takes one of its vernacular names from the seaside town of Carragheen located on the southern coast of Ireland. It has a sweet salty flavor and a bushy branched bushy burgundy-colored appearance and contains chlorophyll, sulfur, protein for 10%. These seaweeds are harvested on wet summer days, washed with seawater and dried for one day, and this operation is repeated for good three times.

It is also found to be rich in mucilage, mineral salts, amino acids and provitamin D. It fluidizes bronchial secretions, promotes digestive function, regularizes intestinal transit and has an emollient and soothing action on the urinary tract. In traditional Chinese medicine it is indicated for tonifying yin, refreshing and diuretic.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Nwosu, F.; Morris, J.; Lund, V.A.; Stewart, D.; Ross, H.A.; McDougall, G.J. Anti-proliferative and potential anti-diabetic effects of phenolic-rich extracts from edible marine algae. Food Chem. 2011, 126, 1006-1012.

Sangha, J.S.; Di, F.; Banskota, A.H.; Stefanova, R.; Khan, W.; Hafting, J.; Craigie, J.S.; Critchley, A.T.; Prithiviraj, B. Bioactive components of the edible strain of red alga, Chondrus crispus, enhance oxidative stress tolerance in Caenorhabditis elegans. J. Func. Foods 2013, 5, 1180-1190.

Banskota, A.H.; Stefanova, R.; Sperker, S.; Lall, S.; Craigie, J.S.; Hafting, J.F. Lipids isolated from the cultivated red alga Chondrus crispus inhibit nitric oxide production. J. Appl. Phycol. 2014, 26, 1565-1571