# Bioactive Metabolites from Portuguese Atlantic Seaweeds: Diversity, Chemical Profiles, and Emerging Biotechnological Applications

## TL;DR

This review explores the chemical diversity and bioactivities of metabolites from Portuguese Atlantic seaweeds, highlighting their potential for biotechnology and the blue bioeconomy.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive synthesis of the chemical and biological profiles of Portuguese seaweed metabolites and their emerging biotechnological applications.

## Key findings

- Portuguese seaweeds produce diverse bioactive metabolites with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumoral properties.
- Ecological factors influence chemical variability, and advances in extraction techniques have enabled structural elucidation of unique compounds.
- Seaweed-derived compounds show promise in pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and sustainable biomaterials.

## Abstract

The Portuguese Atlantic coast harbors a remarkably diverse macroalgal flora, shaped by the intersection of Lusitanian, Mediterranean, and boreal biogeographic influences. This diversity is reflected in the rich repertoire of secondary metabolites produced by local seaweeds, including halogenated compounds, terpenoids, phlorotannins, mycosporine like amino acids, sulfated polysaccharides, and unique phenolic structures. These metabolites exhibit a wide range of bioactivities, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antifouling, antitumoral, and neuroprotective, positioning Portuguese seaweeds as promising sources of novel bioactive agents. This review synthesizes the current state of knowledge on the chemical diversity and biological properties of metabolites isolated from seaweeds along the Portuguese Atlantic coast. We examine species-specific metabolite profiles, ecological drivers of chemical variability, and advances in extraction, purification, and structural elucidation. Emerging applications in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and sustainable biomaterials are discussed, alongside the potential of seaweed derived compounds to support blue bioeconomy development. Finally, we identify research gaps and propose future directions for bioprospecting, metabolomics, and biotechnological exploitation of this underexplored marine resource.