Production of α-linolenic Acid by an Oleaginous Green Algae Acutodesmus obliquus Isolated from Malaysia

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to provide information on the biochemical composition of the total lipid extract of three different native freshwater microalgae namely Acutodesmus obliquus CN01, Chlorella sp. Carolina-15-2069, and Chlorella vulgaris NIES-1269 at different growth phases, cultured under standardized conditions that will be useful for commercialization purposes due to the content of α-linolenic acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 fatty acids. We monitored growth, biomass accumulation, chlorophyll content, lipid content and fatty acids composition in all three freshwater microalgae. In addition, this study seeks to throw some light on the lipid content of a newly isolated freshwater green alga Acutodesmus obliquus CN01 which have shown to give significant quantities of ALA, an added nutritional value to this microalga oil. Acutodesmus obliquus CN01 exhibited the fastest growth rate among the three microalgae used. Biomass was shown to be enhanced in the nitrogen enrichment medium. The outcomes from this study indicated that newly isolated Acutodesmus obliquus CN01 from Malaysia cultured under normal condition showed fast growth rate with high lipid content and also high ALA content. Therefore, from this study, Acutodesmus obliquus CN01 was identified as species of choice to be further explored for its potential to produce omega-3 fatty acids.

Bioprospecting Indigenous Marine Microalgae for Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Under Different Media Conditions

“…The ALA content found in two different strains of Chlorella, i.e., Chlorella vulgaris NIES-1269 and Chlorella sp. Carolina-15-2069 was 35 and 17.9%, respectively (Othman et al, 2019), whereas the same isolate in the present study was producing an ALA content about 50% in F/2 media. Therefore, explaining the variations in the ALA/PUFA productivity in similar microalgal species collected from different habitats is possibly due to their growth, media, and nutrient conditions.…”

Demonstration of the Antioxidant Potential of Three Newly Isolated Carotenoid-Producing Microscopic Algae from KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)

“…3,4 However, cytological changes during the formation of astaxanthin in this microalga vary from other producers, such as Dunaliella spp., Parachlorella spp., Chlorolobion spp, and Scenedesmus spp. 5,6 Under favorable cultivation conditions, highly motile biflagellated green cells are characteristic in Haematococcus spp. Unfavorable conditions such as radiation or starvation induce the loss of motility and enlargement of cells, along with the formation of thick cell walls and the characteristic immotile red-colored haematocysts, indicating carotenoid accumulation.…”