Marine nutraceuticals from Mexican Pacific Sargassum targeting oxidative stress and inflammation in age-related macular degeneration

Lidianys María Lewis-Lujan, Annette Pulcherie Iloki Lewis, Diego Magaña, Clara Rosalia Alvarez Chavez, М. А. Осадчук, Maxim V. Trushin, Juan Carlos Galvez Ruiz, Judas Tadeo Vargas Durazo, Cinthia Jhovanna Pérez-Martínez, Sergio Trujillo López, Simon Bernard Iloki-Assanga

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a multifactorial retinal neurodegenerative disease characterized by oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) dysfunction, and progressive central vision loss. Marine-derived bioactive compounds from Mexican Pacific Sargassum species have emerged as promising nutraceutical candidates due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective properties. This narrative review critically examines the nutritional composition and pharmacologically relevant bioactive constituents of Mexican Pacific Sargassum, with emphasis on fucoxanthin, fucoidans, phlorotannins, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Particular attention is given to their molecular mechanisms of action in AMD-related pathways, including modulation of oxidative stress, Nrf2/HO-1 signaling, NF-κB-mediated inflammation, VEGF-associated angiogenesis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis in retinal cells. Current evidence from preclinical retinal models suggests that these compounds may exert protective effects against AMD progression through multipronged regulation of redox and inflammatory pathways. Additionally, major translational challenges related to bioavailability, extraction standardization, safety, and the absence of AMD-specific clinical trials are critically discussed. Overall, Mexican Pacific Sargassum represents a promising yet underexplored source of marine bioactives with potential applications in the development of nutraceutical strategies targeting retinal degeneration and AMD.