Gracilaria multipartita

What is Gracilaria multipartita?

Gracilaria multipartita is a species of red algae (Rhodophyta) that has a distinctive appearance, with long, cylindrical branches that can reach up to 20 centimeters in length. The color of the algae can vary from greenish-yellow to reddish-brown, depending on the intensity of light and other environmental factors.

Gracilaria multipartita has been cultivated on a large scale in several countries, including Mexico, the Philippines, and China, to meet the increasing demand for agar and other products derived from red algae.

Where does Gracilaria multipartita occur?

Gracilaria multipartita is commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. It is typically found in the intertidal and subtidal zones of rocky shores, as well as in estuaries and lagoons.

Gracilaria multipartita is commonly found growing attached to rocks or other hard substrates in shallow waters with moderate to high levels of water movement. It can also grow epiphytically on other macroalgae or seagrasses. The species has been introduced to several regions outside its native range, such as the Mediterranean, where it has become established as an invasive species.

What can Gracilaria multipartita be used for?

Gracilaria multipartita has several commercial uses due to its high content of agar, a gelatinous substance that is widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries as a thickener, stabilizer, and gelling agent.

In the food industry, agar derived from Gracilaria multipartita is used as a vegetarian alternative to gelatin and is commonly used in desserts, confectionery, dairy products, and meat products. It is also used as a clarifying agent in brewing and wine production.

In the pharmaceutical industry, agar derived from Gracilaria multipartita is used as a solidifying agent in microbiology to culture bacteria and viruses. It is also used in drug delivery systems and as an emulsifier in the production of ointments and creams.

In the cosmetic industry, agar derived from Gracilaria multipartita is used as a thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier in various products, including shampoos, conditioners, and lotions.

Apart from its use in agar production, Gracilaria multipartita is also used as a fertilizer, animal feed, and in the production of biofuels. It is considered a promising candidate for biofuel production due to its high productivity and low lignin content.

Overall, Gracilaria multipartita has several commercial applications and is an important resource for the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. However, it is important to ensure sustainable harvesting and cultivation practices to avoid overexploitation and environmental degradation.

Typical applications

The macroalga Gracilaria multipartita belongs to the red algae and can be found, among other places, on the coasts of Europe.

As a fresh product, Gracilaria multipartita is an excellent ingredient for fresh products and dishes. Due to its red color, it can visually enhance dishes in addition to its marine flavor.

This product is available in the following forms: Gracilaria multipartita raw seaweed. This product is also available in a non-bio version.

 

 

Sources:

1. Gracilaria multipartita - M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 05 November 2018. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. (https://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=439)
2. Gracilaria multipartita - Wikispecies (https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Gracilaria_multipartita)
3. Chen X, Fu X, Huang L, Xu J, Gao X. Agar oligosaccharides: A review of preparation, structures, bioactivities and application. Carbohydr Polym. 2021 Aug 1;265:118076. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118076. Epub 2021 Apr 14. PMID: 33966840. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33966840/)

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