Rhodophyta

Rhodophyta, or red algae, is one of the oldest groups of eukaryotic algae, primarily inhabiting marine environments and contributing significantly to global marine ecosystems. This group is known for producing unique polysaccharides such as agar, carrageenan, and porphyran, as well as halogenated secondary metabolites with distinct biological activities. In biomedical research, Rhodophyta-derived compounds are widely studied for their antiviral, anticoagulant, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. Sulfated polysaccharides from red algae have shown potential in anti-inflammatory and anticancer applications, making them valuable for drug development and functional biomaterials. Additionally, their evolutionary distance from terrestrial plants provides chemically unique scaffolds that expand the diversity of marine natural products in pharmacology.