Abstract
Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima are prokaryotic microalgae commercially marketed as spirulina. The pigments extracted from these algae are widely used for cosmetic and nutraceutical applications. This work aimed to evaluate the influence of three light-emitting lamps (white, orange and blue) on the growth and biomass composition of two strains of A. platensis (M2 and M2M) and one of A. maxima. The obtained data show strain- and light-dependent responses of the microalgae. In addition, white and orange lights led to a similar overall effect by increasing the levels of chlorophyll a and carotenoids. However, exposure to orange light resulted in the highest dry weight (5973.3 mg L−1 in M2M), whereas white light stimulated an increase in the carbohydrate fraction (up to 42.36 g 100 g−1 in A. maxima). Conversely, blue light led to a constant increase in the concentration of phycocyanin (14 g 100 g−1 in A. maxima) and a higher content of proteins in all strains. These results provide important environmental information for modulating the growth of different spirulina strains, which can be used to address the synthesis of biochemical compounds of strategic importance for the development of new nutraceutical foods.
Highlights
Spirulina is the trade name of a prokaryotic cyanobacterium belonging to the family Microcoleaceae and the genus Arthrospira
Exposure to orange light resulted in the highest dry weight (5973.3 mg L−1 in M2M), whereas white light stimulated an increase in the carbohydrate fraction
These results provide important environmental information for modulating the growth of different spirulina strains, which can be used to address the synthesis of biochemical compounds of strategic importance for the development of new nutraceutical foods
Summary
Spirulina is the trade name of a prokaryotic cyanobacterium belonging to the family Microcoleaceae and the genus Arthrospira. It comprises many species, and among these, Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima are the most widely used for food, cosmetic and pharmacological applications [1]. Cyanobacteria are Gram-negative eubacteria and represent the first form of life on earth, responsible for the appearance of the earth’s atmosphere They are defined as “singlecelled organisms that can use photosynthesis” because they can convert solar energy, fixing CO2 and N2, with a transformation rate ten times higher than that of terrestrial plants [3,4,5]. Arthrospira contains high levels of vitamin B12 analogues and substitutes, vitamin B complex and fat-soluble vitamins A, K and E [6,10]
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