Carrageenan has shown antitumor activity with excellent inhibition and contrast in the breast, colon, liver at the maximum concentration of 150 ug / ml (1).

A study on severe degeneration of the invertebral disc has investigated the potential action of carrageenan as a gel in micro-penetration with comforting results (2).

As Carrageenan is used as a commercial additive with the number E407, the question arises whether this component produces any intestinal inflammation or cytotoxicity or induction of proinflammatory cytokines. A standard Caco-2 absorption model showed no permeability or cytotoxicity at concentrations of 100, 500, 1000 mg / mL. Carrageenan was not absorbed and did not induce oxidative stress, nor did it induce pro-inflammatory proteins (3).

To increase the yield of ricotta, the addition of 0.015% of carrageenan, followed by a heat treatment at 90 ° for 5 minutes, improved the product by 13.6% thanks to the increase in the recovery of whey proteins and to the retention of moisture in the cheese (4).

Some contraindications and negative effects on biological systems (5).

References_____________________________________________________________

(1) Suganya AM, Sanjivkumar M, Chandran MN, Palavesam A, Immanuel G. Pharmacological importance of sulphated polysaccharide carrageenan from red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii in comparison with commercial carrageenan. Biomed Pharmacother. 2016 Dec;84:1300-1312. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.10.067.

Jazzara M, Ghannam A, Soukkarieh C, Murad H. Anti-Proliferative Activity of λ-Carrageenan Through the Induction of Apoptosis in Human Breast Cancer Cells. Iran J Cancer Prev. 2016 Jun 15;9(4):e3836. doi: 10.17795/ijcp-3836. 

Prasedya ES, Miyake M, Kobayashi D, Hazama A. Carrageenan delays cell cycle progression in human cancer cells in vitro demonstrated by FUCCI imaging. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2016 Aug 4;16:270. doi: 10.1186/s12906-016-1199-5. 

(2) Chan AH, Boughton PC, Ruys AJ, Oyen ML. An interpenetrating network composite for a regenerative spinal disc application. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 2017 Jan;65:842-848. doi: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2016.10.015.

(3) McKim JM Jr, Baas H, Rice GP, Willoughby JA Sr, Weiner ML, Blakemore W. Effects of carrageenan on cell permeability, cytotoxicity, and cytokine gene expression in human intestinal and hepatic cell lines. Food Chem Toxicol. 2016 Oct;96:1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2016.07.006.

Zia KM, Tabasum S, Nasif M, Sultan N, Aslam N, Noreen A, Zuber M. A review on synthesis, properties and applications of natural polymer based carrageenan blends and composites. Int J Biol Macromol. 2017 Mar;96:282-301. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.11.095. 

(4)  Makhal S, Giri A, Kanawjia SK. Effect of κ-carrageenan and tetrasodium pyrophosphate on the yield of direct acidified cottage cheese. J Food Sci Technol. 2013 Dec;50(6):1200-5. doi: 10.1007/s13197-011-0438-5.

(5) Fahoum L, Moscovici A, David S, Shaoul R, Rozen G, Meyron-Holtz EG, Lesmes U. Digestive fate of dietary carrageenan: Evidence of interference with digestive proteolysis and disruption of gut epithelial function. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2017 Mar;61(3). doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201600545.