## 4 Discussion  
### Bromatological Composition  
_Fucus vesicus_, commonly known as bladderwrack, is a brown seaweed that boasts a rich nutritional profile, making it a valuable addition to diets. This alga, as reported in the literature, consists mostly of water, which is crucial for maintaining its structural integrity and facilitating biochemical reactions. The dry matter of this seaweed is particularly noted for its high content of dietary fibers, proteins, vitamins, and essential minerals. Our study disclosed a high content of dietary fiber, which aligned with the data available in the literature that reported a percentage of dietary fiber ranging from 45% to 59% in raw forms [36]. This high fiber content is particularly beneficial, as it aids digestion, improves lipid profiles, and promotes gut health, maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. Additionally, the protein content could be considered good from a nutritional point of view. In fact, the protein content was around 13% of the dry matter. This makes it a valuable source of essential amino acids that are vital for various metabolic processes, including glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and alanine [37]. Furthermore, the presence of microelements adds to the nutritional value of _Fucus vesicusus_, making it a valuable dietary supplement [38]. In fact, the richness in minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and iron contributes to the seaweed's nutritional value since these minerals are crucial for various physiological functions [37; 39]. On the contrary, the lipid content is relatively low, highlighting values around 3.0% of dry weight, which, as reported in the literature, were dominated by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) [40]. Together, these results highlight how _F. vesicusus_ appears nutritionally, competitive when compared to other brown seaweeds such as _S. lattissima_ and _U. rigida_, which have also shown promising bioactive potential [40]. Evaluation of Polyphenols, Flavonoids, and Phlorotannins During the Simulated In Vitro Digestion Process  
Additionally, in conjunction with the main nutritional sources, _Fucus vesicusus_, as reported in our results, is known for its richness in polyphenols, such as flavonoids and phlorotannins, bioactive molecules with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties [36; 40]. Since the bioactive compounds found in _Fucus vesicusus_ play a crucial role in its health-promoting properties and potential therapeutic applications, it becomes essential that these bioactive molecules remain intact even following the digestive process. Figure 5: Representation of the expression of cytokines (IL-1ß; IL-6; TNF-\(\alpha\)) and enzymes (iNOS) involved in the inflammatory process. Our results showed that after the simulated in vitro digestion process, the total content of polyphenols, including those of flavonoids and phlorotannins, was maintained. These results are in line with our previous study [41], where the retention of the polyphenol class present in the hemp seed extract following the digestive process was observed, a result supported by several studies showing the stability of polyphenol molecules after simulating the digestive process [42; 43; 44]. Similar findings were reported for brown seaweeds, where polyphenol compounds remained stable through simulated digestion, further supporting the resilience of brown algal bioactives under gastrointestinal conditions [45]. Analyzing the release of bioactive molecules through the digestive process more deeply, we found that regardless of the type of molecule, the major release occurred after the gastric phase. These results are reflected in the literature. In fact, the pH of the gastric tract is around 2; this, in addition to the action promoted by the enzymes, can help the release of polyphenols. Polyphenols are a diverse group of secondary plant metabolites characterized by the presence of one or more hydroxyl groups (-OH) directly attached to aromatic rings.