Microalgae as sources of high added‐value compounds—a brief review of recent work

Abstract

Microalgae have found commercial applications as natural sources of valuable macromolecules, including carotenoids, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, and phycocolloids. As photoautotrophs, their simple growth requirements make them attractive for bioprocesses aimed at producing high added-value compounds that are in large demand by the pharmaceutical market. A few compounds synthesized by microalgae have indeed proven to possess anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, and antitumoral features; astaxanthin, a known antioxidant produced by Haematococcus pluvialis, is an illustrative example with important anti-inflammatory and antitumoral roles. From a chemical standpoint, several such compounds are polysaccharides or long chain fatty acids, where the latter can be either saturated or unsaturated. Additionally, their chemical structures are often atypical, whereas their concentrations can exceed those found in many other natural sources. The productivity and biochemical composition of microalgae depend strongly on the mode of cultivation, medium composition, and nutrient profile. Consequently, numerous efforts aimed at elucidating the practical impacts of the aforementioned parameters have been developed. This review accordingly covers the knowledge produced in the last two decades on the uses of microalgae to obtain physiologically active compounds, and on the optimization of the underlying production and purification processes. It also identifies major gaps and opportunities in this field that should be addressed or exploited in the near future.

Kinetics of plasma and erythrocyte-astaxanthin in healthy subjects following a single and maintenance oral dose

“…3 Astaxanthin has recently received attention for its potent antioxidant activity 4 without pro-oxidant properties. 5 It is a unique carotenoid belonging to the xanthophyll family, synthesized by plants and algae providing them with a pink-red color 6 and accumulating in certain animals higher in the food chain, such as fl amingoes, salmon, shrimps, and crayfi sh. 7 Natural astaxanthin is optically distinct from synthetic astaxanthin.…”

Effect of nitrate depletion on lipid accumulation by the marine microalga Nannochloropsis oculata

“…The inappropriate use can affect the growth rate and biochemical composition of cells (CONVERTI et al, 2009). Indeed, for each microalgal species, productivity and the biochemical composition of the cells depend strongly on the type of culture and the nutrient profile of the medium (GUEDES et al, 2011).…”

Bioactive Compounds Derived from Microalgae Showing Antimicrobial Activities

“…The rate of finding metabolites already obtained from other biological sources is less in microalgae as compared with other microorganisms [3]. Due to their metabolic plasticity under stressed vs. nonstressed conditions microalgae possess the extra advantage of triggering secondary metabolism [4]. As microalgae where potentially explored only after 1950s, they were not considered previously for therapeutic purposes.…”