A high-performance “green” carbon-based supercapacitor electrode material is synthesized from selected algae microspheres, which are grown under controlled cultivation conditions.

There is currently much interest in fucoxanthin due to its broad beneficial health effects. The major commercial source of fucoxanthin is marine seaweed, which has many shortcomings, and has thus restricted its large-scale production and more diversified applications. In this study, growth characteristics and fucoxanthin accumulation were evaluated to explore the potential of the marine diatom Nitzschia laevis in fucoxanthin production. The results suggested that heterotrophic culture was more effective for cell growth, while the mixotrophic culture was favorable for fucoxanthin accumulation. A two-stage culture strategy was consequently established. A model of exponential fed-batch culture led to a biomass concentration of 17.25 g/L. A mix of white and blue light significantly increased fucoxanthin content. These outcomes were translated into a superior fucoxanthin productivity of 16.5 mg/(L·d), which was more than 2-fold of the best value reported thus far. The culture method established herein therefore represents a promising strategy to boost fucoxanthin production in N. laevis, which might prove to be a valuable natural source of commercial fucoxanthin.

Scope The aim of the present study is to investigate the efficacy of Nitzschia laevis extract (NLE) in preventing obesity in mice fed with a high‐fat diet (HFD), and the potential underlying mechanisms focusing on modulation of the gut microbiota profile. Methods and results Physiological, histological, and biochemical parameters and gut microbiota compositions are compared among four experimental groups fed respectively with the following diets for 8 weeks: Normal chow diet, HFD, HFD + low concentration of NLE, and HFD + high concentration of NLE. The results demonstrate that NLE supplementation significantly reduces body weight gain and effectively prevents lipid accumulation in the white adipose tissue and liver of the mice. Mechanistic analysis reveals that NLE promotes the expression of uncoupling protein 1 and peroxisome proliferators‐activated receptor‐γ coactivator‐1 mRNA in brown adipose tissue. Furthermore, NLE protects the gut epithelium and positively reshapes the gut microbiota composition against the damaging effect of HFD. Conclusions NLE supplementation demonstrates a protective effect against HFD‐induced obesity in mice, which is associated with reshaping the profile of gut microbiota. To the best of our knowledge, this has been the first report on the potential of microalgal extract to prevent obesity by modulating gut microbiota.

No abstract