marine drugs Review The Use of Invasive Algae Species as a Source of Secondary Metabolites and Biological Activities: Spain as Case-Study Antia G. Pereira 1,2 , Maria Fraga-Corral 1,2 , Paula Garcia-Oliveira 1,2 , Catarina Lourenço-Lopes 1 , Maria Carpena 1 , Miguel A. Prieto 1,2,* and Jesus Simal-Gandara 1,* 1 Nutrition and Bromatology Group, Department of Analytical and Food Chemistry, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Vigo, Ourense Campus, E32004 Ourense, Spain;
[email protected] (A.G.P.);
[email protected] (M.F.-C.);
[email protected] (P.G.-O.);
[email protected] (C.L.-L.);
[email protected] (M.C.) 2 Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolonia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal * Correspondence:
[email protected] (M.A.P.);
[email protected] (J.S.-G.) Abstract: In the recent decades, algae have proven to be a source of different bioactive compounds with biological activities, which has increased the potential application of these organisms in food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, animal feed, and other industrial sectors. On the other hand, there is a growing interest in developing effective strategies for control and/or eradication of invasive algae since they have a negative impact on marine ecosystems and in the economy of the affected zones. However, the application of control measures is usually time and resource-consuming and not profitable. Considering this context, the valorization of invasive algae species as a source of bioactive compounds for industrial applications could be a suitable strategy to reduce their population, Citation: Pereira, A.G.; Fraga-Corral, obtaining both environmental and economic benefits.