Microalgae and Thraustochytrids are Sustainable Sources of Vegan EPA and DHA with Commercial Feasibility.

Vegan diets preclude the availability of some of the essential fatty acids supplied by foods of animal origin. Significantly, eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids are long-chain (LC)-omega - 3 (n - 3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), widely known for preventing a variety of metabolic diseases. In addition to vegan-food supplements, there is increasing demand for infant foods and health foods from dietary sources of EPA and DHA from plant origin.

Industrial potential of carotenoid pigments from microalgae: Current trends and future prospects.

Microalgae are rich source of various bioactive molecules such as carotenoids, lipids, fatty acids, hydrocarbons, proteins, carbohydrates, amino acids, etc. and in recent Years carotenoids from algae gained commercial recognition in the global market for food and cosmeceutical applications. However, the production of carotenoids from algae is not yet fully cost effective to compete with synthetic ones.

Effect of metabolic inhibitors on growth and carotenoid production in Dunaliella bardawil.

Dunaliella bardawil, a green alga accumulates high amount of β-carotene under stress conditions. This organism has been exploited for β-carotene at industrial scale. In the present work, various metabolic inhibitors like diphenylamine (DPA), nicotine, basta, glyphosate, DCMU [3-(3',4'-dichlophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea] and caffeine were used in autotrophic medium, to understand their influence on carotenoid biosynthesis.

Astaxanthin: sources, extraction, stability, biological activities and its commercial applications--a review.

There is currently much interest in biological active compounds derived from natural resources, especially compounds that can efficiently act on molecular targets, which are involved in various diseases. Astaxanthin (3,3'-dihydroxy-β, β'-carotene-4,4'-dione) is a xanthophyll carotenoid, contained in Haematococcus pluvialis, Chlorella zofingiensis, Chlorococcum, and Phaffia rhodozyma. It accumulates up to 3.

Effective inhibition of skin cancer, tyrosinase, and antioxidative properties by astaxanthin and astaxanthin esters from the green alga Haematococcus pluvialis.

Astaxanthin mono- (AXME) and diesters (AXDE) were characterized and examined for anticancer potency with total carotenoids (TC) and astaxanthin (AX) against UV-7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced skin cancer model in rat. At 200 μg/kg bw, AXDE and AXME reduced UV-DMBA-induced tumor incidences up to 96 and 88%, respectively, when compared to AX (66%) and TC (85%). UV-DMBA has been known to generate high levels of free radicals and tyrosinase enzyme, leading to characteristic symptoms of skin pigmentation and tumor initiation.

Influence of abiotic stress signals on secondary metabolites in plants.

Plant secondary metabolites are unique sources for pharmaceuticals, food additives, flavors, and industrially important biochemicals. Accumulation of such metabolites often occurs in plants subjected to stresses including various elicitors or signal molecules. Secondary metabolites play a major role in the adaptation of plants to the environment and in overcoming stress conditions.

Melatonin and serotonin profiles in beans of Coffea species.

A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and an electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) methods were applied to quantify the profiles of melatonin and serotonin (5-HT) in green and roasted beans of Coffea canephora (robusta) and Coffea arabica (arabica). Both melatonin and 5-HT were detected in green coffee beans (5.8±0.

Phytoserotonin: a review.

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; SER) is one of the well-studied indoleamine neurotransmitter in vertebrates. Recently SER has also been reported in wide range of plant species. The precise function of SER at the physiological level, particularly growth regulation, flowering, xylem sap exudation, ion permeability and plant morphogenesis in plant system has not been clear.

Purification, identification, and characterization of methylcobalamin from Spirulina platensis.

The present study reports methylcobalamin in Spirulina platensis using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), thin-layer chromatography (TLC), microbiological assay, chemiluminescence assay, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Extraction of vitamin B12 from S. platensis was carried out without using cyanide.

Ulcer preventive and antioxidative properties of astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis.

The anti-ulcer properties of astaxanthin fractions such as total carotenoid and astaxanthin esters from Haematococcus pluvialis were evaluated in ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats. Since oxygen radical release is a pathogenic factor of ethanol-induced gastric damage, astaxanthin - a free radical scavenger, was investigated as a potential ulcer preventive agent. Astaxanthin fractions - total carotenoid and astaxanthin esters were orally administered to experimental rats at 100, 250 and 500 microg/kg b.

Regulation of carotenoid biosynthetic genes expression and carotenoid accumulation in the green alga Haematococcus pluvialis under nutrient stress conditions.

Haematococcus pluvialis, a green alga, accumulates carotenoids, predominantly astaxanthin, when exposed to stress conditions. In the present work, changes in the pigment profile and expression of carotenogenic genes under various nutrient stress conditions and their regulation were studied. Nutrient stress and higher light intensity in combination with NaCl/sodium acetate (SA) enhanced total carotenoid and total astaxanthin content to 32.

Differential expression of carotenogenic genes and associated changes in pigment profile during regeneration of Haematococcus pluvialis cysts.

Haematococcus pluvialis is a green alga known to accumulate astaxanthin in extra-plastidic lipid vesicles under stress conditions. The present study revealed the influence of few cultural parameters and temperature treatments on regeneration efficiency of red cysts along with changes in pigment profile and expression of carotenogenic genes during regeneration. Regeneration efficiency has been improved by incubating less aged cyst cells in a medium containing ammonium carbonate, 16:8 light-dark cycle with a light intensity of 30 mumol m(-2) s(-1).

Antioxidant activity of Botryococcus braunii extract elucidated in vitro models.

Botryococcus braunii is a green colonial microalga that is used mainly for the production of hydrocarbons, exopolysaccharides, and carotenoids. In the present study, the antioxidant properties of acetone extracts of B. braunii were evaluated using in vitro model systems such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxy radical scavenging, and lipid peroxidation in human low-density lipoprotein and rat tissues.