Plant Growth Biostimulants, Dietary Feed Supplements and Cosmetics Formulated with Supercritical CO2 Algal Extracts

Abstract

The review paper presents the use of algal extracts as safe and solvent-free components of plant growth biostimulants, dietary feed additives and cosmetics. Innovative technology that uses extracts obtained by supercritical CO2 extraction, as a method of isolation of biologically active compounds from algal biomass, is presented. An important part of the complete technology is the final formulation of the product. This enabled realization of the further step which was assessment of the utilitarian properties of the extract-based products. The extracts were analysed for the presence of biologically active molecules (e.g., plant hormones, polyphenols) which provide useful properties such as antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. The bio-products were tested in germination tests and underwent field trials to search for plant growth biostimulatory properties. Tests on animals (laying hens experiments) were conducted to assess pro-health properties of new dietary feed supplement. Another application were cosmetic formulations (dermatological tests). The results of the application tests were very promising, however further studies are required for the registration of the products and successful implementation to the market.

Revestimento biodegradável à base de Spirulina platensis na conservação pós-colheita de goiaba Paluma mantidas sob diferentes temperaturas de armazenamento

“…A utilização da Spirulina platensis vem sendo estudada devido aos seus múltiplos benefícios para a saúde humana (Michalak et al, 2017). Trata-se de uma microalga, cuja composição permite ser utilizada como complemento alimentar, destacando-se na sua composição, alta concentração de proteína entre 60 e 70%, aminoácidos essenciais, altas concentrações de vitaminas A, B12 e β-caroteno, bem como 4 a 7% de lipídios, sendo esses ácidos graxos essenciais, exemplo, ácido linoleico, ácido linolênico, ômega 3 e 6, e ácidos graxos poli-insaturados (Figueira, 2010;Koru, 2012;Pentón-Rol et al, 2018).…”

“…Por esse motivo vem sendo intensamente estudada em novas linhas de pesquisas, como o desenvolvimento de biofilmes estruturais, para o recobrimento de frutos na fase de pós-colheita. Muitos estudos têm focado na biofertilização e bioestimulação de plantas na fase de cultivo (Godlewska et al, 2016;Michalak et al, 2017;Salehi et al, 2017).…”

Renewable sources: applications in personal care formulations

“…Schroeder et al . discussed process optimization for the production of supercritical algal extracts in three areas: biomass harvesting from the natural environment, extraction with carbon dioxide under supercritical conditions and formal requirements, enabling the use of an extract for commercial purposes as a component of cosmetic preparations .…”

Effect of Plant Based Preservatives on Shelf Life and Quality of Mango Fruits (Mangifera indica) During Storage

“…Currently one of the great challenges of fruit growing is the preservation of fruit quality after harvest and the minimization of post-harvest losses [9]. Coatings based on Allium sativum (garlic), Zingiber officinale (ginger), Spirulina platensis (spirulina) were used because of their multiple human health benefits [10]. They act as a barrier against external elements, prolonging the shelf life and reducing the risk of health [11].…”