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Bromophenols in red algae: exploring the chemistry and uncovering biological benefits of these unknown compounds
* 1 , 2 , 1 , 1, 3 , 4, 5 , * 1, 6
1  1Universidade de Vigo, Nutrition and Bromatology Group, Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Science, Faculty of Science, E32004 Ourense, Spain.
2  Universidade de Vigo, Nutrition and Bromatology Group, Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Science, Faculty of Science, E32004 Ourense, Spain.
3  3REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Rua Dr António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.
4  4 REQUIMTE/LAQV, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, R. Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
5  1 Universidade de Vigo, Nutrition and Bromatology Group, Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Science, Faculty of Science, E32004 Ourense, Spain.
6  2Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolonia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal.
Academic Editor: Gal Bitan

Abstract:

Bromophenols, which belong to the family of phenolic compounds, are halogenated secondary metabolites characterized by the incorporation of bromine atoms into the phenol ring structure, resulting in unique chemical properties. These compounds, synthesized as secondary metabolites by algae, exhibit different isomeric forms due to bromine substitution at different positions within the phenol ring, showing variability among species. Bromine substitution not only confers specific chemical properties but also plays an important role in the ecological functions of bromophenols by inducing increased lipophilicity, which affects solubility and reactivity, an adaptive response to external conditions. Certain genera of red algae, such as Gracilaria and Rhodomela, have been identified as important sources of bromophenols. Research on bromophenols involves extraction, commonly using solvents such as methanol or methanol-dichloromethane, and identification and structural elucidation using advanced analytical techniques such as mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for the precise determination of structure and configuration. Bromophenols display diverse biological activities, highlighting antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antiviral and antioxidant properties, which are closely related to their specific chemical structure. The importance of understanding the chemical group of bromophenols is underlined by their role in chemical defense mechanisms, contributing to potential biotechnological applications and broader contributions to the marine ecosystem [1–6]. Therefore, this study is aimed to review the chemical characteristics and biological properties of bromophenols in red algae.

Keywords: Bromophenols; phenolic compounds; secondary metabolites; red algae

 
 
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