Effect of Microfluidization on Bioaccessibility of Carotenoids from Chlorella ellipsoidea during Simulated Digestion

Abstract

This study evaluated the bioaccessibility of carotenoids from marine species Chlorella ellipsoidea using simulated digestion. In order to increase the carotenoids bioaccessibility, C. ellipsoidea was pulverized by microfluidization. The major carotenoid in C. ellipsoidea was zeaxanthin with two minor carotenoids, antheraxanthin and β‐carotene. The mean microalga particle size was significantly reduced from 2463 to 361 nm with the microfluidization treatment. After microfluidization, the content of zeaxanthin and β‐carotene in C. ellipsoidea was not changed compared with untreated group. But, the antheraxanthin content was significantly diminished showing antheraxanthin, a kind of epoxyxanthophylls, was fragile to physical processing. The bioaccessibility of carotenoids in untreated C. ellipsoidea was very low and approximately 97% of total C. ellipsoidea carotenoids was not micellized during simulated digestion. The microfluidized microalga (at 20,000 psi) was ten times more effective for zeaxanthin and β‐carotene micelles production compared with untreated C. ellipsoidea, showing the effect of microfluidization on higher carotenoids bioaccessibility (zeaxanthin: 32.60%, β‐carotene: 18.19%). These results indicate that microfluidization may be useful for improving zeaxanthin and β‐carotene bioaccessibility from C. ellipsoidea during digestion process.