Abstract
The biochemical composition of three novel selected microalgae strains (Chlorophyta) was evaluated to confirm their potential possibilities as new sustainably produced biomass with nutritional, functional, and/or biomedical properties. Extracts from cultured Pseudopediastrum boryanum, Chloromonas cf. reticulata, and Chloroidium saccharophilum exhibited higher radical scavenging activity of DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) when compared to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), but lower than butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Total phenolic compounds and amino acids were determined by newly developed RP-HPLC methods. Total phenolic contents, as µg g−1 of dry biomass, reached 27.1 for C. cf. reticulata, 26.4 for P. boryanum, and 55.8 for C. saccharophilum. Percentages of total analysed amino acids were 24.3, 32.1, and 18.5% of dry biomass, respectively, presenting high values for essential amino acids reaching 54.1, 72.6, and 61.2%, respectively. Glutamic acid was the most abundant free amino acid in all microalgae samples, followed by proline and lysine in C. saccharophilum and P. boryanum, and methionine and lysine in C. reticulata. Soluble carbohydrates in aqueous extracts ranged from 39.6 for C. saccharophilum to 49.3% for C. reticulata, increasing values to 45.1 for C. saccharophilum and 52.7% for P. boryanum in acid hydrolysates of dried biomass. Results confirmed the potential possibilities of these microalgae strains.
Highlights
Changes in human and animal nutrition are essential, among other actions, to achieve several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals [1]
limits of detection (LOD) were found to be in the range of 0.0221–0.2003 μg mL−1, and the limits of quantification (LOQ) were observed in the range of 0.0736–0.6676 μg mL−1
Samples in this study showed a higher content of phenolic compounds than five different microalgae and cyanobacterial species evaluated by Klejdus et al [38], who identified eight phenolic compounds and quantified the highest content in the green microalgae Spongiochloris spongiosa (6.656 μg g−1 of dry biomass)
Summary
Changes in human and animal nutrition are essential, among other actions, to achieve several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals [1]. Diets rich in meat and processed foods are detrimental to health and are associated with higher environmental costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Polysaccharides from macro- and microalgae are considered a source of dietary fibre with bioactive properties improving the levels of blood glucose and cholesterol [6,7]. These algal polysaccharides show other potent biological activities such as antioxidant, antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial, and antitumoral properties; tyrosinase inhibitory activity; and anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory characteristics [6,8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
