Isolation, Purification, Characterisation and Multifunctional Biological Activities of Dieckol: A Review
Abstract
Marine environments are a valuable source of chemically diverse bioactive compounds with biomedical potential. Among marine macroalgae, brown seaweeds of the genus Ecklonia are rich in phlorotannins, a unique class of polyphenolic metabolites. Dieckol, a hexameric phlorotannin mainly derived from Ecklonia species, has gained significant attention due to its wide range of biological activities. This review summarizes current knowledge on its extraction, purification, structural characterisation, and functional properties. Conventional solvent extraction as well as advanced techniques such as ultrasonic and microwave assisted extraction have been employed to enhance yield and preserve bioactivity. Analytical methods including HPLC, NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry are essential for its identification and purity assessment. Experimental evidence indicates that dieckol exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anticancer, antimicrobial, bone protective, and neuroprotective effects through modulation of oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling, and cell survival pathways. However, its clinical application remains limited due to poor bioavailability arising from its large molecular size, high polarity, low membrane permeability, gastrointestinal instability, and extensive metabolism. Recent strategies focusing on nano based and lipid-based delivery systems show promise in improving its stability and absorption. Overall, dieckol represents a promising therapeutic and nutraceutical candidate, but further in vivo and clinical studies are required to establish its safety and efficacy.
Keywords:
Bioavailability, Dieckol, Ecklonia, PhlorotanninsDOI
https://doi.org/10.25004/IJPSDR.2026.180405References
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Copyright (c) 2026 Anupama Sobhana Sreekumar, Parvathy Bindu, Fathima Beevi, Harisankar Haridasan Pllai Sudha, Nevin Kottayath Govindan, Smitha Chandrika Krishnan, Anil Kumar Appu Kuttan
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