The State Intellectual Property Service of the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan has registered the copyright for the technology of obtaining iodine and polysaccharides from brown and blue-green algae of the Caspian Sea. The development opens up prospects for the production of valuable bioactive additives and pharmaceuticals.

The technology was created by specialists of the biotechnology laboratory the International Science and Technology Park of the Academy of Sciences Turkmenistan – A. Rakhmanova, D. Gadamov and A. Ashirova. Their work is based on the unique properties of brown algae, a real "health plant."

Algae (Phaeophyceae) and blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria) the Caspian Sea plays an important role in the ecosystem and is widely used in various fields due to its rich composition. They contain a variety of vitamins, minerals and biologically active substances.

Substances obtained from algae biomass, including iodine and polysaccharides, are easily absorbed by the body. Unlike synthetic ones however, iodine in organic form has a high bioavailability, which makes it more "natural" for humans. These components help to make up for the deficiency of iodine, which is necessary for hormone production thyroid glands that regulate metabolism.

The biological activity of iodine and polysaccharides is multifaceted. They have an antitumor effect, as they are able to trigger the process of apoptosis (programmed death of cancer cells) without affecting healthy ones. They also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, neutralizing free radicals and protecting cells from damage. In addition, the substances have antiviral properties, preventing viruses from entering cells, which has been confirmed with respect to influenza, herpes and cytomegalovirus viruses.

The development and development of biotechnologies is one of the central directions of Turkmenistan's state policy. As part of the Science Development Strategy for 2024-2052 and the "Program for the Integrated Development of Biotechnologies in the country for 2024-2028," Turkmen scientists are actively introducing scientific achievements into the economy.

– One of the directions of the Program is the development of technologies obtaining new types of medicines from the flora of Turkmenistan," comments Altyn Rakhmanova, Head of the Biotechnology Laboratory.