Abstract
Many species of microalgae have been used as source of nutrient rich food, feed, and health promoting compounds. Among the commercially important microalgae, Haematococcus pluvialis is the richest source of natural astaxanthin which is considered as “super anti-oxidant.” Natural astaxanthin produced by H. pluvialis has significantly greater antioxidant capacity than the synthetic one. Astaxanthin has important applications in the nutraceuticals, cosmetics, food, and aquaculture industries. It is now evident that, astaxanthin can significantly reduce free radicals and oxidative stress and help human body maintain a healthy state. With extraordinary potency and increase in demand, astaxanthin is one of the high-value microalgal products of the future.This comprehensive review summarizes the most important aspects of the biology, biochemical composition, biosynthesis, and astaxanthin accumulation in the cells of H. pluvialis and its wide range of applications for humans and animals. In this paper, important and recent developments ranging from cultivation, harvest and postharvest bio-processing technologies to metabolic control and genetic engineering are reviewed in detail, focusing on biomass and astaxanthin production from this biotechnologically important microalga. Simultaneously, critical bottlenecks and major challenges in commercial scale production; current and prospective global market of H. pluvialis derived astaxanthin are also presented in a critical manner. A new biorefinery concept for H. pluvialis has been also suggested to guide toward economically sustainable approach for microalgae cultivation and processing. This report could serve as a useful guide to present current status of knowledge in the field and highlight key areas for future development of H. pluvialis astaxanthin technology and its large scale commercial implementation.
Highlights
“Green microalgae” comprise more than 7000 species growing in a variety of habitats
Since astaxanthin has a great potential in the global market (280 mt, $447 million in 2014 for both synthetic and natural astaxanthin) and high market value ($2500–7000/kg); (Koller et al, 2014; Pérez-López et al, 2014; Industry Experts, 2015), in depth investigation of H. pluvialis biology, physiology, efficient culture techniques, downstream bioprocessing, and product formation are highly desired for further development of this sector
Ltd etc.) are involved in large scale production of H. pluvialis and astaxanthin, the production capacity is far beyond the global demand of natural astaxanthin. This review summarizes both classical knowledge and most recent advances in the cell biology, physiological, and biochemical characteristics, responses to environmental stresses, and their effect on astaxanthin accumulation, genetic engineering, growth conditions, and different cultivation techniques, harvesting, and post harvest downstream bioprocessing of H. pluvialis
Summary
“Green microalgae” comprise more than 7000 species growing in a variety of habitats. Haematococcus pluvialis (Chlorophyceae, Volvocales) is unicellular fresh water microalga distributed in many habitats worldwide. Ltd etc.) are involved in large scale production of H. pluvialis and astaxanthin, the production capacity is far beyond the global demand of natural astaxanthin This review summarizes both classical knowledge and most recent advances in the cell biology, physiological, and biochemical characteristics, responses to environmental stresses, and their effect on astaxanthin accumulation, genetic engineering, growth conditions, and different cultivation techniques, harvesting, and post harvest downstream bioprocessing of H. pluvialis. During transition from green vegetative cells to red aplanospores after exposure to stress conditions astaxanthin start to accumulate as fatty acid mono- or diesters in cytoplasmic lipid droplets (LD) (Aflalo et al, 2007). The majority of astaxanthin is not deposited in its free form but it exists within the cell as fatty acid esters of astaxanthin, usually mono- or diesters of palmitic (16:0), oleic (18:1), or linoleic (18:2) acids This type of modification is required for the deposition of this highly polar molecule within non-polar matrix of lipid droplets. Under certain conditions of stress H. pluvialis has been shown to accumulate up to 3–5% DW of astaxanthin (Han et al, 2013; Chekanov et al, 2014)
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