Microalgal Co-Cultivation Prospecting to Modulate Vitamin and Bioactive Compounds Production

Abstract

Microalgal biotechnology is gaining importance. However, key issues in the pipeline from species selection towards large biomass production still require improvements to maximize the yield and lower the microalgal production costs. This study explores a co-cultivation strategy to improve the bioactive compounds richness of the harvested microalgal biomass. Based on their biotechnological potential, two diatoms (Skeletonema marinoi, Cyclotella cryptica) and one eustigmatophyte (Nannochloropsis oceanica) were grown alone or in combination. Concentrations of ten vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D2, D3, E and H), carotenoids and polyphenols, together with total flavonoids, sterols, lipids, proteins and carbohydrates, were compared. Moreover, antioxidant capacity and chemopreventive potential in terms inhibiting four human tumor-derived and normal cell lines proliferation were evaluated. Co-cultivation can engender biomass with emergent properties regarding bioactivity or bioactive chemical profile, depending on the combined species. The high vitamin content of C. cryptica or N. oceanica further enhanced (until 10% more) when co-cultivated, explaining the two-fold increase of the antioxidant capacity of the combined C. cryptica and N. oceanica biomass. Differently, the chemopreventive activity was valuably enhanced when coupling the two diatoms C. cryptica and S. marinoi. The results obtained in this pilot study promote microalgal co-cultivation as a valuable strategy aiming to boost their application in eco-sustainable biotechnology.

Microalgae Bioactive Compounds to Topical Applications Products—A Review

“…extract is rich in carotenoids (xanthophylls, lutein, violaxanthin, neoxanthin, T. suecica antheraxanthin and loroaxanthin esters), and it has shown excellent antioxidant, antiproliferative, and repairing activity in human lung cancer cell lines [ 81 ]. Pistelli et al previously reported that Skeletonema marinoi , Cyclotella cryptica , and Nannochloropsis oceanica coculture improved bioactive compound richness as vitamins and biomass augmented the antioxidant or chemoprotective activity [ 82 ]. The Skeletonema marinoi strain has also been studied for ovothiol biosynthesis, an efficient thiohistidine compound in the scavenging of radicals and peroxides and which has only been identified in clams [ 83 ].…”

Potential for the Production of Carotenoids of Interest in the Polar Diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus

“…We have furthermore demonstrated that, beyond fucoxanthin, polar diatom biomass valorisation can include other bioactive xanthophyll pigments of interest, namely diadinoxanthin+diatoxanthin [ 6 ]. Since diatoms are enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFAs) of interest, such as eicosapentaenoic acid [ 4 , 90 , 91 , 96 ], and phenolic compounds, vitamins and other bioactive metabolites [ 113 , 114 ], polar diatom biomass valorisation beyond pigments could also be considered [ 115 ].…”

Biotechnological response curve of the cyanobacterium Spirulina subsalsa to light energy gradient

“…Total carbohydrate concentration was determined on 30 mg of dried algal powder with the phenol sulfuric acid method [ 60 ], slightly modified as described by Pistelli et al [ 8 ].…”

“…The interest in microalgae in the context of eco-sustainable development is growing, deserving potential roles in human health, feed, aquaculture, biomaterials, energy, and environmental protection. Both the human health and feed sector could profit from the remarkable microalgal secondary metabolites content and diversity [ 3 , 5 ], such as PUFAs, vitamins, carotenoids or polyphenols [ 6 – 8 ]. Cells regulate secondary metabolite synthesis is regulated by cells in response to driving forces inducing protection, signaling, defense or repair mechanisms [ 9 , 10 ].…”