Abstract
Dinoflagellates are photosynthetic protists commonly distributed in marine and freshwater environments and can be found in symbiotic associations. They are a significant primary producer and play a fundamental role in the functioning of aquatic ecosystems – especially for coral reefs. Dinoflagellates can produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites, and their toxins can affect fish, birds and mammals. In recent years these toxins have been found to have potential cytotoxic, anticancer, antibiotics, antifungals activities. This mini review covers the main genera of dinoflagellates, and challenges and advances in their cultivation in addition to prospects for development of dinoflagellates-based products.
Highlights
Interest in microalgae has increased considerably in recent decades, mainly due to demand for sustainable biomass and bioprocesses, such as aquaculture, where microalgae play essential roles as live food for molluscs, and larvae of crustaceans and fish (Muller-Fuega, 2000; Garrido-Cardenas et al, 2018)
According to Garrido-Cardenas et al (2018), even with various species of microalgae isolated, global production of and research on microalgae are limited to a small number of taxa, such as Arthrospira of Spirulina group, that are intended mainly for human food or as a dietary supplement (Pan-Utai et al, 2018); Chlorella spp. for being a potential producer of β-1,3-glucan, an active immunostimulator with antioxidant capacity (Carballo et al, 2019); Dunaliella salina, as a source of β-carotene (BenAmotz, 2004) and; Haematococcus pluvialis, for astaxanthin extraction (Panis & Carreon, 2016)
Dinoflagellates are a eukaryotic group of microalgae common in marine, estuarine and freshwater environments
Summary
Interest in microalgae has increased considerably in recent decades, mainly due to demand for sustainable biomass and bioprocesses, such as aquaculture, where microalgae play essential roles as live food for molluscs, and larvae of crustaceans and fish (Muller-Fuega, 2000; Garrido-Cardenas et al, 2018). Besides other applications, these photosynthetic microorganisms have aroused interest in wastewater treatment and production of high commercial value molecules (eg., fatty acids, carotenoids and amino acids ) and biofuels (Daroch et al, 2013; Salama et al, 2017; Oliveira et al, 2020a). Specific dinoflagellate genera have been studied as a source of bioactive molecules (secondary metabolites): Alexandrium, Amphidinium, Gymnodinium, Karlodinium and Symbiodinium (Wang & Hsieh, 2002; Parker et al, 2002; Band-Schmidt et al, 2014; Benstein et al, 2014; Lage et al, 2014; Molina-Miras et al, 2018; Langenbach & Melkonian, 2019)
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