MANILA BULLETIN
By NONOY E. LACSON
October 5, 2010, 6:24pm
BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi – Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahali cited yesterday the importance of seaweeds in the marine ecosystem vis-à-vis with mangroves and coral reefs which can also be viewed in two perspectives – ecological value and economic uses.
Sahali said seaweed farming used to be an alternative livelihood during the early 80’s here but it is now emerging to be an important and major livelihood in the coastal areas in the province.
Eucheuma Cottonii, Kappaphycus alvarezii, and Eucheuma denticulatum are the major species cultivated in the province today, he said.
The governor said Kelp (brown seaweeds) is harvested and the algin – a gum used as a thickener – taken from the kelp is used to thicken food.
You can find kelp in ice cream and algin in some breads, beer, pudding, and even salad dressing, make-up, soap, toothpaste, and shampoo, facial masks and massage gels, he said.
Adding that some fertilizers also contain seaweed, and also in some soil conditioners and animal feeds.
Seaweed is also an ingredient in some medicines used to cure at least five major diseases – tuberculosis, arthritis, colds, influenza, and also worm infections.
Seaweed can also be found in the composition of some herbs and vitamins, Sahali said.
“Agar, a substance extracted from seaweed, is used in the culture of bacteria and other microorganisms. Petri plates that medical technicians use are lined with agar gels. Hospital laboratories also use agar plates to identify various types of infectious bacteria,” Sahali explained.
Agarose is another substance extracted from seaweeds and commonly used in the area of medicine, specifically in chromatography to purify proteins, DNA, and other substances, he added.
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/280665/sahali-cites-importance-seaweeds
