Seaweeds, classified as non-vascular plants, have definite advantages over terrestrial plants as they grow rapidly, can be cultivated in coastal environments, and are dependable and non-endangered sources of biomass. Algal bioproducts, which include a wide range of bioactive compounds, have drawn much interest because of their applications in nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and cosmetics. Particularly in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical fields, algal bioproducts have shown tremendous activity in regulating enzymes involved in human diseases. However, the drawbacks of conventional extraction methods impede the complete exploitation of seaweed biomass. These include low efficiency, high cost, and potential harm to the environment. Enzyme technology developments in recent years present a viable way to overcome these challenges. Enzymatic processes improve product yields and reduce the environmental impact of processing, while facilitating the more effective extraction of valuable bioactive compounds as part of an integrated biorefinery approach. Enzyme-assisted biorefinery techniques can greatly advance the creation of a circular bioeconomy and increase the yield of extracted seaweed bioproducts, thus improving their value. With the potential to scale up to industrial levels, these biotechnological developments in enzymatic extraction are developing rapidly and can advance the sustainable exploitation of seaweed resources. This review emphasises the increasing importance of enzyme technologies in the seaweed biorefinery and their contribution to developing more environmentally friendly, economically feasible, and sustainable methods for valorising products derived from seaweed. In the biorefinery industry, enzyme-assisted methods have enormous potential for large-scale industrial applications with further development, opening the door to a more sustainable, circular bioeconomy.
Mabate et al. (Tue,) studied this question.