This document summarizes an international collaboration to research the medicinal potential of Caribbean sargassum seaweed. The collaboration involves associations in Martinique studying natural resources and epidemiology/biodiversity, as well as an institute in Nice, France. They aim to detect pharmacological potentials of sargassum extracts against diseases prevalent in the Caribbean by testing extracts on disease cell models and identifying active compounds. Work packages include collecting sargassum, optimizing extracts, screening extracts for therapeutic activity against cancers, infections and neurodegenerative diseases, studying mechanisms of action, and disseminating results. The collaboration expects to contribute innovative training, leverage international expertise, and relate biological activities to molecular identifications.

1. SargScreen :
International collaboration in research of the medicinal
potentialities of the Caribbean Sargasso
Dr. Azaria REMION, ARVARNAM,
azaria.remion@collabioration.com
International Joint call on Sargassum, 19/10/24, CWTC Guadeloupe1

2. Introduction
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19/10/24
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 +350 species of Sargasso in the world
 Great pharmaceuticals potentials
Yende., et al 2014 « Therapeutic potential and health
benefits of Sargassum species »
-Biologically active compounds:
tannins, terpenoids, flavonoids, sterols, sulfated
polysaccharides, polyphenols, sargaquinoic acids,
sargachromenol, pheophytin etc.
-Pharmacological activities:
analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant,
neuroprotective, antimicrobial, fibrinolytic,
immunomodulatory, anticoagulant,
hepatoprotective, etc.

3. The consortium
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Collaboration between biologists and chemists :
 Association for Research on the Valorization of Natural
Resources of Martinique (A.R.VA.R.NA.M)
 Association for Research in Epidemiology and
Biodiversity (AREBio)-MARTINIQUE
 Institute of Chemistry of Nice - FRANCE

4. Aims and objectives
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 Aim
To detect pharmacological potentials of
Sargassum extracts against pathologies spread
over the Caribbean.
 Objectives
Use cellular models of the pathologies of interest
to do a pharmacological screening to identify
active ingredients against the pathologies.
Rely therapeutical activities detected to
molecular modifications.

5. International Joint call on Sargassum,
19/10/24
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 WP n°1- Location, collection, decomposing of
fished Sargasso and Voucher specimens
Partner : Ecole de Formation Professionnelle Maritime
et Aquacole (E.F.P.M.A)
(Maritime and Aquaculture Vocational Training School)
Oceanography and meteorology to predict pelagic
Sargasso mats locations
Sargassum collection off the Martinican coasts,
in seawaters not contaminated by Chlordecone
( according to the official maps)
Partner : Office National des Fôrets (ONF)
(National Forest Office)
Taxonomic identification
Management of the project

6. Management of the project
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19/10/24
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 WP n°2 : Extractions
Sargasso
extracts

7. Management of the project
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 WP n°2 : Extractions
Partner : Pôle Agroressources et de
Recherche de Martinique (PARM)
(Agroresources and Research Center of
Martinique )
Optimisation of extractions
Lyophilization : stock
Partner : Institut de Chimie de Nice (ICN)
(Institute of Chemistry of Nice)
Chemical dereplication ( separation of
the compounds)
Pesticides safety controls

8. Management of the project
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 WP n°3: Therapeutical activity screening and active
ingredients identifications
Partners : Pool of international experts in research
against
Cancers, infectious and neuro-degenerative diseases
spread over the Caribbean.
 WP n°4: Proofs of therapeutical observed
mechanisms
Monitoring global changes induced at different cellular
levels
Cellular targets of the active sargasso coumpounds
identification
Partner : BIODIVMA-MARTINIQUE
Toxico-pharmacological controls.
Partner : AREBio-MARTINIQUE
Studies of the biological constituents of sargasso
 WP n°5: Communication and dissemination
Outreach events among the civil society as well as decision
makers.

9. Research questions addressed and results
expected
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 Sargasso extracts
( in Martinique)
 Biological and toxicologic
coumpounds
( in Martinique)
 Separation of the
compounds (also from
pesticides) and safety
controls
(in France)
 Antiviral hits
( in France)
 Anticancer hits
( in France)
 Antiparasitic hits
(in French Guiana)
 Anti neurodegenerative
diseases hits
(Hungary)
 Proofs of mechanisms
(Martinique, France, China)

10. Added value and dissemination perspective for
development
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 Innovative vocational and pedagogical training
program.
 International experts in respective area of research.
 Interdisciplinary collaboration between biologists and
chemists :
new perspectives to rely biological activities to
molecular identification
 Project dissemination in Nigeria and Caribbean :
same pathologies, same Sargasso.
 SargScreen website and organising outreach events
among the civil society as well as decision makers.