Chondrus crispus, commonly known as Irish moss or carrageen moss, is a species of red algae found along the coasts of the North Atlantic Ocean. This seaweed is notable for its high content of carrageenan, a gelatinous substance used as a thickening and gelling agent in various food and industrial applications. Irish moss has a long history of use in traditional medicine and cuisine, particularly in Ireland, where it has been consumed as a nutritious food and used for its purported health benefits.

Botanical Classification

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Rhodophyta
• Class: Florideophyceae
• Order: Gigartinales
• Family: Gigartinaceae
• Genus: Chondrus
• Species: C. crispus

Plant Characteristics

Chondrus crispus is a red alga that typically grows in clumps or tufts and can reach lengths of up to 30 cm (12 inches). It has a flattened, irregularly lobed structure with a leathery texture. The color of the algae ranges from deep red to purple or greenish brown, depending on the light conditions and environmental factors. It adheres to rocks in intertidal zones and can withstand strong wave action and varying salinity levels.

Chemical Composition and Structure

The primary components of Chondrus crispus include:

• Carrageenan: A polysaccharide with thickening and gelling properties, widely used in the food industry.
• Agar: Another gelatinous substance present in small quantities, used as a thickening agent.
• Minerals: Rich in iodine, calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
• Vitamins: Contains vitamins A, C, E, and K.
• Proteins and Amino Acids: Provides essential proteins and amino acids beneficial for health.

Cultivation

Chondrus crispus can be harvested from the wild or cultivated in controlled environments. Wild harvesting involves collecting algae from rocky shores in the North Atlantic. Cultivation requires submersion in marine farms or tanks with controlled temperature, salinity, and light conditions. The algae are typically dried and processed to extract carrageenan.

Uses and Benefits

• Culinary: Chondrus crispus is used in food preparation as a natural thickening and gelling agent. It is incorporated into products like dairy alternatives, sauces, and desserts.

• Medicinal: Traditionally used for its purported health benefits, including its ability to support digestive health, boost immunity, and provide a source of essential nutrients.

• Cosmetic: Carrageenan derived from Irish moss is used in skincare products for its moisturizing and thickening properties. It is included in creams, lotions, and masks.

INCI Functions:

Fragrance. It plays a very important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it provides the possibility of enhancing, masking or adding fragrance to the final product, increasing its marketability. It is able to create a perceptible pleasant odour, masking a bad smell. The consumer always expects to find a pleasant or distinctive scent in a cosmetic product. 

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

CAS   244023-79-8

Applications

• Food Industry: Used as a thickener and stabilizer in a variety of food products, including dairy substitutes and processed foods.

• Pharmaceutical: Incorporated into products for its gelling and stabilizing properties.

• Cosmetic: Added to skincare products for its hydrating and texture-enhancing benefits.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

Chondrus crispus is generally considered safe for consumption and use in cosmetics. However, it is important to ensure that the algae is sourced sustainably to prevent overharvesting and protect marine ecosystems. As with any product, individuals with allergies or sensitivities should conduct a patch test before using products containing carrageenan.

Bibliografia__________________________________________________________________________

Liu J, Banskota AH, Critchley AT, Hafting J, Prithiviraj B. Neuroprotective effects of the cultivated Chondrus crispus in a C. elegans model of Parkinson's disease. Mar Drugs. 2015 Apr 14;13(4):2250-66. doi: 10.3390/md13042250. 

Abstract. Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the elderly people, currently with no cure. Its mechanisms are not well understood, thus studies targeting cause-directed therapy or prevention are needed. This study uses the transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans PD model. We demonstrated that dietary supplementation of the worms with an extract from the cultivated red seaweed Chondrus crispus decreased the accumulation of α-synulein and protected the worms from the neuronal toxin-, 6-OHDA, induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration. These effects were associated with a corrected slowness of movement. We also showed that the enhancement of oxidative stress tolerance and an up-regulation of the stress response genes, sod-3 and skn-1, may have served as the molecular mechanism for the C. crispus-extract-mediated protection against PD pathology. Altogether, apart from its potential as a functional food, the tested red seaweed, C. crispus, might find promising pharmaceutical applications for the development of potential novel anti-neurodegenerative drugs for humans.

Domingo G, Marsoni M, Álvarez-Viñas M, Torres MD, Domínguez H, Vannini C. The Role of Protein-Rich Extracts from Chondrus crispus as Biostimulant and in Enhancing Tolerance to Drought Stress in Tomato Plants. Plants (Basel). 2023 Feb 13;12(4):845. doi: 10.3390/plants12040845. PMID: 36840193; PMCID: PMC9963589.

Abstract. The application of seaweed extract-based biostimulants is a promising approach for achieving sustainable agriculture, with an enormous potential of improving crop yield and mitigating climate change effects. Abiotic stressors, such as drought, are major factors resulting in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) yield losses and seaweed-based biostimulants have been proposed as an eco-friendly strategy to counteract this negative impact. Chondrus crispus is a common red seaweed widely used as source of carrageenans, not yet explored as a plant biostimulant. In this study, a protein hydrolysate-rich C. crispus extract, by-products of the carrageenan extraction, was tested on tomato plants under well-watered condition and water shortage. The foliar application of the protein-rich C. crispus extract conferred drought tolerance to tomato plants resulting in less noticeable visual stress symptoms. Treated plants showed higher shoot height and biomass under both well-watered and water deficit conditions, evidencing the double effect exerted by this new biostimulant, as plant growth promoter and drought stress protector. The treatment with the biostimulant had an effect on levels of abscisic acid and proline, and triggered the expression of Solyc02g084840, a drought marker gene. Finally, a label-free mass spectrometric approach allowed us to identify phycoerythrins and phycocyanins as major bioactive proteins contained in the extract. Altogether, these results indicate that the foliar application of protein hydrolysate-rich extracts from C. crispus improved tomato plant growth and tolerance to drought stress, suggesting a new opportunity for further applications in the agriculture and horticultural sectors.

Liu J, Kandasamy S, Zhang J, Kirby CW, Karakach T, Hafting J, Critchley AT, Evans F, Prithiviraj B. Prebiotic effects of diet supplemented with the cultivated red seaweed Chondrus crispus or with fructo-oligo-saccharide on host immunity, colonic microbiota and gut microbial metabolites. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2015 Aug 14;15:279. doi: 10.1186/s12906-015-0802-5. 

Abstract. Background: Gastrointestinal microbial communities are diverse and are composed of both beneficial and pathogenic groups. Prebiotics, such as digestion-resistant fibers, influence the composition of gut microbiota, and can contribute to the improvement of host health. The red seaweed Chondrus crispus is rich in dietary fiber and oligosaccharides, however its prebiotic potential has not been studied to date....Results: Phylochip array analysis indicated differing microbiome composition among the diet-supplemented and the control groups, with the C. crispus group (2.5% supplementation) showing larger separation from the control than other treatment groups. In the 2.5% C. crispus group, the population of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium breve increased (4.9-fold, p=0.001), and the abundance of pathogenic species such as Clostridium septicum and Streptococcus pneumonia decreased. Higher concentrations of short chain fatty acids (i.e., gut microbial metabolites), including acetic, propionic and butyric acids, were found in faecal samples of the C. crispus-fed rats. Furthermore, both C. crispus and FOS supplemented rats showed significant improvements in proximal colon histo-morphology. Higher faecal moisture was noted in the 2.5% C. crispus group, and elevated plasma immunoglobulin (IgA and IgG) levels were observed in the 0.5% C. crispus group, as compared to the basal feed group. Conclusions: The results suggest multiple prebiotic effects, such as influencing the composition of gut microbial communities, improvement of gut health and immune modulation in rats supplemented with cultivated C. crispus.