| Abstract | Phycobiliproteins, carotenoids and fucoxanthin are photosynthetic pigments extracted from microalgae and cyanobacteria with great potential biotechnological applications, as healthy food colorants and cosmetics. Phycocyanin possesses a brilliant blue color, with fluorescent properties making it useful as a reagent for immunological essays. The most important source of phycocyanin is the cyanobacterium Arthrospiraplatensis, however, recently, the Rhodophyta Galdieriasulphuraria has also been identified as such. The main obstacle to the commercialization of phycocyanin is represented by its chemical instability, strongly reducing its shelf-life. Moreover, the high level of purity needed for pharmaceutical applications requires several steps which increase both the production time and cost. Microalgae (Chlorella, Dunaliella, Nannochloropsis, Scenedesmus) produce several light harvesting carotenoids, and are able to manage with oxidative stress, due to their free radical scavenging properties, which makes them suitable for use as source of natural antioxidants. Many studies focused on the selection of the most promising strains producing valuable carotenoids and on their extraction and purification. Among carotenoids produced by marine microalgae, fucoxanthin is the most abundant, representing more than 10% of total carotenoids. Despite the abundance and diversity of fucoxanthin producing microalgae only a few species have been studied for commercial production, the most relevant being Phaeodactylumtricornutum. Due to its antioxidant activity, fucoxanthin can bring various potential benefits to the prevention and treatment of lifestyle-related diseases. In this review, we update the main results achieved in the production, extraction, purification, and commercialization of these important pigments, motivating the cultivation of microalgae as a source of natural pigments. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] |
| Text | 481101 2023 10.1007/s43630 023 00407 3 Scopus 2 s2.0 85152297483 Phycocyanin · Primary carotenoids · Fucoxanthin · Microalgae Valuable pigments from microalgae phycobiliproteins, primary carotenoids, and fucoxanthin Chini Zittelli G.; Lauceri R.; Faraloni C.; Silva Benavides A.M.; Torzillo G. Istituto per la Bioeconomia, CNR, Via Madonna del Piano 10, Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Istituto per la Bioeconomia, CNR, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy, , Italy; Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque, CNR, Sede Di Verbania, Largo Tonolli 50, Verbania, 28922, Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque, CNR, Sede Di Verbania, Largo Tonolli 50, 28922, Verbania, Italy, , , Italy; Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque, CNR, Sede Di Verbania, Largo Tonolli 50, Verbania, 28922, Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque, CNR, Sede Di Verbania, Largo Tonolli 50, 28922, Verbania, Italy, , , Italy; Centro de Investigacion en Ciencias del Mar Y Limnolog a, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, San Pedro, 2060, Centro de Investigacion en Ciencias del Mar Y Limnolog a, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San Jose, 2060, Costa Rica, , Costa Rica; Escuela de Biologia, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, San Pedro, 2060, Escuela de Biologia, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San Jose, 2060, Costa Rica, , Costa Rica Phycobiliproteins, carotenoids and fucoxanthin are photosynthetic pigments extracted from microalgae and cyanobacteria with great potential biotechnological applications, as healthy food colorants and cosmetics. Phycocyanin possesses a brilliant blue color, with fluorescent properties making it useful as a reagent for immunological essays. The most important source of phycocyanin is the cyanobacterium Arthrospiraplatensis, however, recently, the Rhodophyta Galdieriasulphuraria has also been identified as such. The main obstacle to the commercialization of phycocyanin is represented by its chemical instability, strongly reducing its shelf life. Moreover, the high level of purity needed for pharmaceutical applications requires several steps which increase both the production time and cost. Microalgae Chlorella, Dunaliella, Nannochloropsis, Scenedesmus produce several light harvesting carotenoids, and are able to manage with oxidative stress, due to their free radical scavenging properties, which makes them suitable for use as source of natural antioxidants. Many studies focused on the selection of the most promising strains producing valuable carotenoids and on their extraction and purification. Among carotenoids produced by marine microalgae, fucoxanthin is the most abundant, representing more than 10% of total carotenoids. Despite the abundance and diversity of fucoxanthin producing microalgae only a few species have been studied for commercial production, the most relevant being Phaeodactylumtricornutum. Due to its antioxidant activity, fucoxanthin can bring various potential benefits to the prevention and treatment of lifestyle related diseases. In this review, we update the main results achieved in the production, extraction, purification, and commercialization of these important pigments, motivating the cultivation of microalgae as a source of natural pigments. Graphical abstract Figure not available see fulltext. Postprint http //www.scopus.com/record/display.url eid=2 s2.0 85152297483 origin=inward Zittelli et al. 2023 PPS https //doi.org/10.1007/s43630 023 00407 3 Zittelli_et_al 2023 Photochemical_ _Photobiological_Sciences.pdf Articolo in rivista Royal Society of Chemistry, 1474 9092 Photochemical photobiological sciences Online Photochemical photobiological sciences Online Photochem. photobiol. sci. Online Photochemical photobiological sciences Online Photochemical and photobiological sciences Online Online Photochemical and photobiological sciences Online giuseppe.torzillo TORZILLO GIUSEPPE rosaria.lauceri LAUCERI ROSARIA graziella.chinizittelli CHINI ZITTELLI GRAZIELLA cecilia.faraloni FARALONI CECILIA |
