Potential of Microalgae Extracts for Food and Feed Supplementation—A Promising Source of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Compounds

Abstract

Microalgae are known producers of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, making them natural alternatives to be used as food and feed functional ingredients. This study aimed to valorise biomass and exploit new applications and commercial value for four commercially available microalgae: Isochrysis galbana, Nannochloropsis sp., Tetraselmis sp., and Phaeodactylum tricornutum. For that, five extracts were obtained: acetone (A), ethanol (E), water (W), ethanol:water (EW). The antioxidant capacity (ABTS•+/DPPH•/•NO/O2•−/ORAC-FL) and anti-inflammatory capacity (HBRC/COX-2) of the extracts were screened. The general biochemical composition (carbohydrates, soluble proteins, and lipids) and the main groups of bioactive compounds (carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and peptides) of extracts were quantified. The results of antioxidant assays revealed the potential of some microalgae extracts: in ABTS•+, Nannochloropsis sp. E and Tetraselmis sp. A, E, and P; in DPPH•, Tetraselmis sp. A and E; in •NO, P. tricornutum E and EW; in O2•−, Tetraselmis sp. W; and in ORAC-FL, I. galbana EW and P. tricornutum EW. Concerning anti-inflammatory capacity, P. tricornutum EW and Tetraselmis sp. W showed a promising HBRC protective effect and COX-2 inhibition. Hence, Tetraselmis sp. and P. tricornutum extracts seem to have potential to be incorporated as feed and food functional ingredients and preservatives.

Differences and Similarities in Lipid Composition, Nutritional Value, and Bioactive Potential of Four Edible Chlorella vulgaris Strains

“…When compared to other microalgae ( Gloeothece sp., Tetraselmis sp. and Phaeodactylum tricornutum ) tested at similar and higher concentrations (500 μg mL −1 ) of the lipid extracts [ 51 , 52 ], C-Auto and C-Hetero (125 μg mL −1 ) revealed higher anti-inflammatory potential, while C-White showed similar activity. Differences in the anti-inflammatory potential observed between heterotrophically grown strains (C-Hetero, C-Honey, and C-White) can be associated with the lipid species competing as a substrate for COX-2.…”

Enhancing the Biological Effects of Bioactive Compounds from Microalgae through Advanced Processing Techniques: Pioneering Ingredients for Next-Generation Food Production

“…Comparing the thermal degradation preservation of Human Red Blood Cells (HRBCs), P. tricornutum had around 32% HBRC protection, and Tetraselmis sp. had approximately 18% [ 42 ]. Both species presented an average 38% inhibition of the cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme, thus providing neuroprotection against neurodegenerative diseases.…”

Microalgae as Multiproduct Cell Factories

“…Other single-value chained products from microalgae are lipophilic astaxanthin extract (5, …, 10%) from H. pluvialis [6], algal oil from P. tricornutum [38]), the hydrophilic extracts Pepha®TIGHT from Nannochloropsis oculata [39], and SILIDINE® from Porphyridium cruentum (Table 1). These extracts have found industrial applications owing to their anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and skin regeneration properties in nutraceuticals and cosmeceutical industries [40,41]. However, beside containing the main valuable and effect causing component(s) of interest alone, also a myriad of other extracted cellular products are present in the raw extracts.…”