Microalgal Biotechnology: Prospects and Applications

Abstract

Plant Science 276composition, pigments and different constituents which may vary with salt stressed culture conditions and describe the antioxidant characteristics of algae. What are microalgae?Microalgae are prokaryotic or eukaryotic photosynthetic microorganisms that produce carbohydrates, proteins and lipids as a result of photosynthesis. They can grow rapidly and live in harsh conditions due to their unicellular or simple multicellular structure. Examples of prokaryotic microorganisms are Cyanobacteria (Cyanophyceae) and eukaryotic microalgae are for example green algae (Chlorophyta) and diatoms (Bacillariophyta). Microalgae are present in all existing earth ecosystems, not just aquatic but also terrestrial, representing a big variety of species living in a wide range of environmental conditions. It is estimated that more than 50,000 species exist, but only a limited number, of around 30,000, have been studied and analyzed [4]. Sunlight, water, nutrients and arable land are the major requirements for growing algae. Micro algae have the ability to fix CO2 using solar energy with efficiency 10 times greater than that of the terrestrial plants with numerous additional technological advantages. Algae are more efficient at utilizing sunlight than terrestrial plants, consume harmful pollutants, have minimal resource requirements and do not compete with food or agriculture for precious resources [5].

Isolation, Identification and Biotechnological Applications of a Novel, Robust, Free-living Chlorococcum (Oophila) amblystomatis Strain Isolated from a Local Pond

“…PUFAs are classified as n-3 and n-6 and play an important role in human and animal nutrition [41,42]. It is reported that n-3 fatty acids play an important role in the prevention of coronary heart disease and inflammatory disease, brain disorder, such as Alzheimer's disease and help in cancer therapy [43][44][45], while n-6 fatty acids are pro-inflammatory [41,46]. The functional sources of n-3 in microalgae are normally eicosapentaenoic (EPA, C20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic (DHA, C22:6n-3) acids; however, chlorophytes and particularly freshwater microalgae are, in general, deficient in both C20 and C22 PUFAs [4,45].…”

“…Lutein is largely consumed as a feed additive in aquaculture and as a food colorant. Despite this, as it is an essential component for the macula lutea in the eye retina and lens, and since lutein from microalgae (E161g) was approved as a color additive in the EU and USA, another feasible application might be within the realm of the pharmaceutical industry [10,44,50]. In the eastern world, the percentage of people with Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ADM) disease is high and the recommended intake of lutein is 6 mg daily, which might often be achieved via ingestion of food supplements [44,50].…”

“…β-carotene is the second most abundant carotenoid in C. amblystomatis biomass; however, its contents are lower in comparison with the main natural producer of this carotenoid, Dunaliella salina (Chlorophyta) (11-21 mg•g −1 ) [51]. This pigment holds an important nutritional use due to its ability to act as provitamin A, increasing the vitamin A production in the organism [44]. The great demand of β-carotene by the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries has mainly been met by production by chemical synthesis; however, the demand for natural sources is increasing, holding an estimated market size of 10 to 100 tons per year and a market value of > 750 €•kg −1 [3].…”

High-EPA Biomass from Nannochloropsis salina Cultivated in a Flat-Panel Photo-Bioreactor on a Process Water-Enriched Growth Medium

“…Microalgae are autotrophic microorganisms, which are able to produce biomass from solar energy, CO 2 and nutrients, with higher photosynthetic activity compared to terrestrial plants [1,2]. Resulting biomass includes important metabolites such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and also many other bioactive compounds like pigments and phenolics.…”

Phycoremediation of fish farm wastewater by Chlorella sorokiniana and autochthonous microalgae

“…They are predominantly aquatic and microscopic and are considered a very heterogeneous group of microorganisms. They have the potential to produce various biomolecules such as lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins and are used in the pharmaceutical and food industries (Mostafa, 2012).…”