Phlorotannins are Polyphenolic Metabolites of Brown Algae

This review is devoted to the analysis of publications on studies of phlorotannins, which are polyphenolic metabolites of brown algae. Their properties, the pathway of biosynthesis, and the structural diversity and classification of phlorotannins, as well as the methods for their isolation and determination of their metabolic profiles, are examined. The antioxidant, antitumor, and antimicrobial activities of phlorotannins and their role in the regulation of enzyme activity are discussed. These properties of phlorotannins determine the prospects of using phlorotannins in pharmacology.