Evaluation of Microalgae Antiviral Activity and Their Bioactive Compounds

Abstract

During the last year, science has been focusing on the research of antivirally active compounds overall after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, which caused a great amount of deaths and the downfall of the economy in 2020. Photosynthetic organisms such as microalgae are known to be a reservoir of bioactive secondary metabolites; this feature, coupled with the possibility of achieving very high biomass levels without excessive energetic expenses, make microalgae worthy of attention in the search for new molecules with antiviral effects. In this work, the antiviral effects of microalgae against some common human or animal viruses were considered, focusing our attention on some possible effects against SARS-CoV-2. We summed up the data from the literature on microalgae antiviral compounds, from the most common ones, such as lectins, polysaccharides and photosynthetic pigments, to the less known ones, such as unidentified proteins. We have discussed the effects of a microalgae-based genetic engineering approach against some viral diseases. We have illustrated the potential antiviral benefits of a diet enriched in microalgae.

Effects of Dietary Microalgae Supplementation on Mammals’ Production and Health

“…Bioactive compounds in microalgae have been shown to provide an innovative role to enhance antimicrobial, antiviral and antiparasitic activities (Chen et al, 2016;Carbone et al, 2021;Yi et al, 2021;Sonkamble and Wagh, 2022). Ghania et al (2019) confirmed the antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities of three Algerian algae from the northwest coast.…”

Characterization of Planktochlorella nurekis Extracts and Virucidal Activity against a Coronavirus Model, the Murine Coronavirus 3

“…Another indicator of the pyrimidine metabolism pathway found in the NMR spectra aside from glutamine was the presence of hypoxanthine. This metabolite is important due to its role in microalgae metabolism as a precursor of xanthine, which can be used to synthesize bioactive substances, such as astaxanthin [ 48 ], theobromine, and other methylxanthines, which have been reported to be antiviral agents against numerous pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2 [ 49 ].…”

Application of Pulsed Electric Fields and High-Pressure Homogenization in Biorefinery Cascade of C. vulgaris Microalgae

“…For example, microalgal lipids may serve as a source for biofuels, building blocks in the chemical industry, and value-added edible oils for the functional food and health market [9,10]. Moreover, microalgal proteins, carbohydrates, and pigments may find application in the food, feed, health, and bulk chemical market, or for the production of ethanol and chemicals [11][12][13][14][15].…”