Anti-proliferative and potential anti-diabetic effects of phenolic-rich extracts from edible marine algae

► Phenolic-rich extracts from edible seaweeds inhibit colon cancer proliferation at low doses. ► Similar extracts from Ascophyllum inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase at micromolar doses. ► The inhibitory agents are identified as phlorotannins by fractionation and mass spectral properties