Chlorella vulgaris, a representative edible algae as integrative and alternative medicine

Abstract

Algae exhibit diverse biological activities, and they are also natural resources with the potential for large-scale production. As a result, research on algae has progressed, and the roles of algae have been revealed. Chlorella vulgaris, one of the species most widely found in East Asian countries such as China, Korea, and Japan, has confirmed diverse functional and pharmacological attributes, leading to extensive consumption of Chlorella vulgaris as a supplement. Seven active compounds extracted from Chlorella vulgaris such as dodecanoic acid and loliolide have been reported to collectively contribute to its overall bioactive and medicinal activities.