In a significant breakthrough, India’s ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has unveiled a nutraceutical product derived from carefully selected seaweeds. This novel product, named “Cadalmin Immunalgin extract” (Cadalmin IMe), is designed to enhance innate immunity and combat post-Covid complications. Remarkably, CMFRI claims that Cadalmin IMe also possesses antiviral properties effective against the delta variant of the SARS CoV-2 virus.
Dr. Kajal Chakraborty, the head of the marine biotechnology, fish nutrition, and health division at CMFRI, who led the product’s research, describes Cadalmin IMe as “a synergistic combination of seaweed-based nutraceuticals, constituting a 100 percent natural blend of highly nutritious bioactive ingredients extracted using eco-friendly green technology.”
This groundbreaking achievement represents the 10th marine-derived nutraceutical in a series developed by CMFRI. Previous products have targeted various lifestyle-related diseases, including type-2 diabetes, arthritis, cholesterol, hypertension, hypothyroidism, osteoporosis, and fatty liver.
Dr. Chakraborty explains that the development of Cadalmin IMe relied on bioactive pharmacophores derived from seaweeds. Notably, administering Cadalmin IMe to SARS CoV-2 (delta variant) induced cells demonstrated a promising reduction in viral infection rates. The nutraceutical accomplishes this by elevating innate immune responses through the regulation of the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines.
Cadalmin IMe functions by interacting with membrane-associated pattern recognition receptors, thus preventing virus entry through cellular signaling pathways while simultaneously stimulating the production of inflammatory cytokines. Consequently, it emerges as a naturally derived alternative source offering health benefits against inflammation and autoimmune disorders.
Importantly, Cadalmin IMe has undergone extensive preclinical trials, confirming its safety profile. It exhibits no toxicity concerns concerning clinical and behavioral symptoms. The active ingredients will be encapsulated in plant-based capsules. The optimization of large-scale extraction of these active principles from raw materials has already demonstrated the commercial feasibility of this nutraceutical product.
Dr. Chakraborty notes that the process for the commercialization of Cadalmin IMe is currently in progress, promising new avenues for immune support and antiviral protection in the post-Covid era.
