Effect of Lipases fromCandida cylinderaceaon Enrichment of PUFA in Marine Microalgae

Abstract

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have a fundamental role in human metabolism. Here, a study was attempted to develop a commercially feasible technology to enrich eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) present in Isochrysis galbana, Chaetocerous calcitran, Chlorella marina and Tetraselmis gracillus using lipase source Candida cylinderacea. To the wet mass of algae added 4, 8 and 12 U of lipase enzyme concentration and was incubated at 37C for 4, 8, 16 and 24 h of hydrolysis. Control was taken without any added enzyme. The experiment investigated the optimum conditions of lipases as a function of time and enzyme concentrations. The study reveals that the uses of biolipases under standardized condition are useful for commercial production of PUFA in pharmaceutical industries. Practical Application Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have a fundamental role in human metabolism due to their antibacterial, antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties, and play role in the prevention of cardiac diseases and inhibition of tumor progression. Marine fish oil is the richest source for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), but the limitations are its high susceptibility toward oxidation and consequent off-flavors and production of toxic compounds, as well as geographical and seasonal variations in quality and quantity. As marine algae is the primary producer of n-3 PUFA in the natural environment, replacing fish oil with n-3 PUFA enriched algae provides an excellent opportunity to develop alternative n-3 PUFA for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical purposes. Following this background, a study was attempted to develop a commercially feasible technology to enrich Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) present in microalgae.