Extraction Of Astaxanthin Research Articles

Research on the Cell Wall Breaking and Subcritical Extraction of Astaxanthin from Phaffia rhodozyma.

This study focused on developing an effective cell wall-breaking method for Phaffia rhodozyma, followed by utilizing subcritical fluid extraction to isolate, extract, and concentrate astaxanthin from the complex fermentation products of P. rhodozyma. A comprehensive comparison of seven distinct methods for disrupting cell walls, including dimethyl sulfoxide treatment, lactic acid treatment, sodium hydroxide treatment, β-glucanase enzymatic digestion, β-mannanase enzymatic digestion, and a combined enzymatic treatment involving both β-mannanase and β-glucanase was conducted. The results identified the lactic acid method as the most effective in disrupting the cell walls of P. rhodozyma. The software, Design Expert, was used in the process of extracting astaxanthin from cell lysates using a subcritical extraction method. Through fitting analysis and response surface optimization analysis by Design Expert, the optimal extraction conditions were determined as follows: an extraction temperature of 41 °C, extraction frequency of two times, and extraction time of 46 min. These parameters facilitated the efficient extraction, concentration, and enrichment of astaxanthin from P. rhodozyma, resulting in an astaxanthin concentration of 540.00 mg/L. This result can establish the foundation for its high-value applications.

Extraction of Astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis and Preparation of Astaxanthin Liposomes.

Astaxanthin has 550 times more antioxidant activity than vitamin E, so it can scavenge free radicals in vivo and improve body immunity. However, the poor stability of astaxanthin becomes a bottleneck problem that limits its application. Herein, Haematococcus pluvialis (H. pluvialis) as a raw material was used to extract astaxanthin, and the optimal extraction conditions included the extraction solvent (EA:EtOH = 1:6, v/v), extraction temperature (60 °C), and extraction time (70 min). The extracted astaxanthin was then loaded using lecithin to form corresponding liposomes via the ethanol injection method. The results showed that the particle size and zeta potential of the prepared liposomes were 105.8 ± 1.2 nm and -38.0 ± 1.7 mV, respectively, and the encapsulation efficiency of astaxanthin in liposomes was 88.83%. More importantly, the stability of astaxanthin was significantly improved after being embedded in the prepared liposomes.

Enhanced toxicity-free astaxanthin extraction from Haematococcus pluvialis via concurrent cell disruption and demulsification

The extraction of astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis involves the utilization of petroleum-derived organic solvents or supercritical CO2, beset by safety concerns, high costs, and environmental sustainability limitations. This study, in contrast, employed a method involving the adjustment of salt concentration, propylene glycol, and vegetable oil fraction to disrupt emulsion in aqueous cell lysates for facilitating the separation of astaxanthin. Under optimized conditions, an astaxanthin-containing oil with a content of 1.88% was obtained even with the use of wet biomass, and four rounds of consecutive extraction resulted in a cumulative recovery yield of 66.41%. This process produced astaxanthin-enriched soybean oil with 9.49 times improved antioxidant capacity that satisfies a requirement for health functional application. Omitting the solvent removal and drying processes, which consume tremendous energy, can reduce the production cost by 2.98 times compared to conventional methods. Consequently, this study suggests an effective technique for producing edible oil containing H. pluvialis-derived astaxanthin.

Extraction and separation of astaxanthin with the help of pre-treatment of Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae biomass using aqueous two-phase systems based on deep eutectic solvents

The microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis are the main source of the natural antioxidant astaxanthin. However, the effective extraction of astaxanthin from these microalgae remains a significant challenge due to the rigid, non-hydrolyzable cell walls. Energy savings and high-efficiency cell disruption are essential steps in the recovery of the antioxidant astaxanthin from the cysts of H. pluvialis. In the present study, H. pluvialis microalgae were first cultured in Bold's Basal medium under certain conditions to reach the maximum biomass concentration, and then light shock was applied for astaxanthin accumulation. The cells were initially green and oval, with two flagella. As the induction time increases, the motile cells lose their flagellum and become red cysts with thick cell walls. Pre-treatment of aqueous two-phase systems based on deep eutectic solvents was used to decompose the cell wall. These systems included dipotassium hydrogen phosphate salt, water, and two types of deep eutectic solvents (choline chloride–urea and choline chloride–glucose). The results of pre-treatment of Haematococcus cells by the studied systems showed that intact, healthy cysts were significantly ruptured, disrupted, and facilitated the release of cytoplasmic components, thus facilitating the subsequent separation of astaxanthin by liquid–liquid extraction. The system containing the deep eutectic solvent of choline chloride–urea was the most effective system for cell wall degradation, which resulted in the highest ability to extract astaxanthin. More than 99% of astaxanthin was extracted from Haematococcus under mild conditions (35% deep eutectic solvent, 30% dipotassium hydrogen phosphate at 50 °C, pH = 7.5, followed by liquid–liquid extraction at 25 °C). The present study shows that the pre-treatment of two-phase systems based on deep eutectic solvent and, thus, liquid–liquid extraction is an efficient and environmentally friendly process to improve astaxanthin from the microalgae H. pluvialis.

Astaxanthin, Haematococcus pluvialis and Haematococcus pluvialis Residue Alleviate Liver Injury in D-Galactose-induced Aging Mice through Gut-liver Axis.

Astaxanthin is a keto-based carotenoid mainly obtained from marine organisms, like Haematococcus pluvialis (H. pluvialis). Previous studies indicated the protective effects of Astaxanthin and H. pluvialis on aging related oxidative injury in liver, while the potential mechanisms are largely unknown. In addition, H. pluvialis residue is a by-product after astaxanthin extraction, which is rarely studied and utilized. The present study aimed to compare the effects of astaxanthin, H. pluvialis and H. pluvialis residue on the oxidant injury of liver in D-galactose-induced aging mice and explore the potential mechanisms through gut-liver axis. The results showed that all the three supplements prevented D-galactose-induced tissue injury, oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in liver and improved liver function. Gut microbiota analysis indicated that astaxanthin notably increased fecal levels of Bacteroidetes, unclassified_f__ Lachnospiraceae, norank_f__Lachnospiraceae, norank_f__norank_o__Clostridia_UCG-014, Prevotellaceae_ UCG-001, unclassified_f__Prevotellaceae in D-galactose-fed mice (p < 0.05). Compared to aging mice, H. pluvialis group had higher fecal levels of norank_f__Lachnospiraceae and Lachnospiraceae_UCG-006 (p < 0.05). H. pluvialis residue group displayed higher relative levels of Bacteroidetes, Streptococcus, and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the production of fecal microbial metabolites, like SCFAs and LPS was also differently restored by the three supplements. Overall, our results suggest astaxanthin, H. pluvialis and H. pluvialis residue could prevent aging related hepatic injury through gutliver axis and provide evidence for exploiting of H. pluvialis residue as a functional ingredient for the treatment of liver diseases. Future studies are needed to further clarify the effect and mechanism of dominant components of H. pluvialis residue on liver injury, which is expected to provide a reference for the high-value utilization of H. pluvialis resources.

The Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Haematococcus pluvialis for Enhanced Pigmentation in Amphiprion ocellaris

Among the minority seawater species in the ornamental fish market, clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) have a high market value due to their vibrant appearance. Astaxanthin, a promising coloring agent, is applied in diets as a food additive to enhance the physical appearance of clownfish. However, as the retail price of astaxanthin has been inflating, the industry is eager to find more affordable astaxanthin products. The present study evaluated the nutrients and pigmentation performance of the algae-extracted astaxanthin diets of clownfish, followed by a comparative feeding trial evaluating the graded levels of either Haematococcus pluvialis powder or extracted astaxanthin supplements in the experimental diets. The study included three stages: assessing the utilization of H. pluvialis powder as an astaxanthin source, investigating the optimal practical extraction method, and revisiting the effects of crude extracted astaxanthin on clownfish based on the identified preparation processes. In the first stage, H. pluvialis powder was applied as the feed additive for a feeding trial, resulting in a low-utilization rate of astaxanthin in clownfish. This indicated that a suitable extraction method was essential for clownfish. Two chemical-based methods for astaxanthin extraction were investigated to obtain the optimal extraction yields; results showed that the HCl–acetone method had an astaxanthin yield of 21.99 ± 0.52 mg/g cell, which was significantly higher than the yield from the acetic acid-DMSO method. Finally, the effects of HCl–acetone-extracted astaxanthin was compared with the effects of synthesized astaxanthin. The pigmentation performance study was performed using a digital image acquisition and processing technique. A significant increase in the red color signal was observed at week six after fed with 400 and 200 mg/kg of the extracted astaxanthin, compared to the control 0 mg/kg. In conclusion, H. pluvialis-extracted astaxanthin following the HCl–acetone method can significantly improve the pigmentation performance of A. ocellaris after 42 days of oral administration.

Efficient supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of astaxanthin from Hematococcus pluvialis at high pressure

Astaxanthin derived from Hematococcus pluvialis (H. pluvialis) exhibits potent capacity in scavenging free radicals and quenching active oxygen. However, the conventional extraction of Astaxanthin from H. pluvialis involves the use of a substantial amount of organic reagents, leading to environmental pollution and low extraction efficiency. In this work, a high-pressure supercritical CO2 extraction (H-SFE) was applied to extract astaxanthin from H. pluvialis. Influential parameters of H-SFE were optimized by single factor, orthogonal test and kinetics experiments. Extraction pressure is a critical component influencing the extraction efficiency of SFE. Increased pressure results in increased supercritical CO2 density and thus increased solubility of substances and enhanced component extraction. The extraction yield of astaxanthin at 65MPa was 1.25 times and 2.32 times higher than that at 45MPa and 25MPa, respectively. The H-SFE extraction yield of astaxanthin was 20%-70% higher than that of ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) and organic solvent extraction (OSE).

The combination of uridine and nitrogen-deprivation promotes the efficient formation of astaxanthin-rich motile cells in Haematococcus pluvialis

Astaxanthin accumulation in Haematococcus pluvialis typically occurs alongside the formation of secondary cell wall (SCW), hindering astaxanthin extraction and bio-accessibility. A potential solution lies in cultivating astaxanthin-rich motile cells lacking SCW. This study explored the influence and underlying mechanism of nitrogen-deprivation (ND) on SCW formation and established a connection between pyrimidine metabolism and SCW development. Then, various pyrimidine and ND combinations were examined to cultivate astaxanthin-rich motile cells. The results indicated that, compared to the nitrogen-replete group, the combination of uridine and ND increased the proportion of motile cells by 25–33 times, achieving 95 %, and enhanced astaxanthin yield by 26.52 %. Moreover, the efficiency of astaxanthin extraction from intact, wet motile cells was 91 % – 95 %, which was 5.6–9.0 times that from non-motile cells. This study not only presents a promising method for producing astaxanthin-rich motile cells in H. pluvialis but also provides insights into the relationship between pyrimidine metabolism and SCW development.

Simultaneous extraction and purification of natural astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis using adsorptive chromatography

The Haematococcus pluvialis is a recognized source of natural astaxanthin. The realm of astaxanthin bioprocessing is emerging with advanced techniques of cultivation and astaxanthin extraction. The present study addresses constraint of H. pluvialis cultivation under the Indian tropical environment for improved astaxanthin production, followed by purification of extracted astaxanthin. The chemical-based extraction using DMSO, yielded 163 mg g−1 of astaxanthin. Further, alkaline saponification was performed with 0.015 M NaOH at 25 °C to de-esterify astaxanthin esters. Considering the prerequisite of food and feed applications, a process was developed for the removal of non-GRAS solvent (DMSO) using adsorptive chromatography. Based on static adsorption and desorption studies of the resins, Amberlite XAD 1180 N was selected for column chromatography. Purification by column chromatographic study yielded DMSO-free 97.3 mg g−1 of astaxanthin, resulting in 80.8 % recovery. Stability studies confirmed 92 % retention of purified astaxanthin with 85 % antioxidant activity at 4 °C over 90 days.

Enhancement of astaxanthin production, recovery, and bio-accessibility in Haematococcus pluvialis through taurine-mediated inhibition of secondary cell wall formation under high light conditions

This study explored the use of taurine in enhancing the production and bio-accessibility of astaxanthin in Haematococcus pluvialis, which typically forms a secondary cell wall hindering astaxanthin extraction. The biomass of taurine-treated group significantly increased by 18%, and astaxanthin yield surged by 34% in comparison to the control group. Without cell disruption, astaxanthin recovery from thin-walled cells in the taurine-treated group, using dimethyl sulfoxide and ethanol as extraction reagents, was 97% and 75%, respectively, which were 30-fold higher than those of thick-walled cells in the control group. Additionally, the cell fragmentation rate increased by 86% in taurine-treated group relative to the control group. Comparative transcriptome analysis identified taurine-induced upregulation of genes involved in the astaxanthin biosynthesis pathway and downregulation of those associated with secondary cell wall synthesis. This study thus offers an innovative taurine-based strategy to enhance astaxanthin production and bio-accessibility while shedding light on the mechanisms driving this process.

Selectively extraction of astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis by aqueous biphasic systems composed of ionic liquids and deep eutectic solutions

Haematococcus pluvialis is rich in astaxanthin ester (Ast1) and free astaxanthin (Ast2). The astaxanthin is natural antioxidant, and shows higher biodegradability and eco-friendly characteristics than commercial astaxanthin. However, the existing extraction technology is difficult to achieve selectively separation of Ast1 and Ast2. Novel aqueous biphasic systems (ABSs) composed of ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were developed to selectively extract Ast1 and Ast2. The results showed that the ABS composed of tributyloctylphosphine chloride ([P4448]Cl) and choline chloride:d-fructose ([ChCl][Fru]) performed best. The yield and partition coefficient of astaxanthin was 2.35 mg·g−1 and 103.59, respectively. Moreover, Ast1 and Ast2 could be selectively separately with the highest coefficient of specificity of 48.31. Furthermore, the ABS maintained an excellent extraction capacity after three cycles of recycling. As compared with organic solvent extraction and prior methods, the IL-DES ABS is more efficient, recyclable, and environmentally friendly for selectively extraction of astaxanthin.

Bio-Circular green economy application for the recovery of high value added compounds, such as astaxanthin and glucosamine, from cephalothorax of Karamote shrimp Peneaus kerathurus in Western Greece

Shrimp waste can be used as source of high value added compounds, such as astaxanthin and glucosamine. Astaxanthin (C40H52O4) is a xanthophyll carotenoid and belongs to a larger class of terpenes. Astaxanthin exists in stereoisomers, geometric isomers, free and esterified forms based on the reaction with fatty acid. It is a fat soluble colorful pigment and can be found in aquatic environment in microalgae, salmon, trout, krill, shrimp, crayfish and crustaceans. It has both lipophilic and hydrophilic properties, protect cells, lipids and membrane lipoproteins against oxidative damage. D-glucosamine (C6H13NO5), an amino sugar (hexosamine), is a part of the structure of two polysaccharides, chitosan and chitin. Naturally shows up in human body and crustacean shells. Glucosamine exists in the form of glucosamine sulphate, glucosamine hydrochloride, or N-acetyl-glucosamine and is extensively used as a dietary supplement in the treatment for osteoarthritis, knee and back pain. This research aims to optimize by chemical methods the extraction of glucosamine and astaxanthin from cephalothorax of Karamote shrimp Peneaus (Melicertus) kerathurus. Astaxanthin yield obtained using hexane as extraction solvent. Furthermore, results showed that G-HCl yield obtained with solid/liquid ratio of 1:20, at high hydrolysis reaction temperature and with agitation. Additionally, the low cooling temperature of 5 °C and the use of ethanol support the formation of G-HCl crystals.

Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction of Astaxanthin from Shrimp By-Products Using Vegetable Oils.

The use of conventional astaxanthin extraction methods, typically involving organic solvents, leads to a heightened environmental impact. The aim of this study was to explore the potential use of environmentally friendly extraction solvents, such as vegetable oils, for recovering the shrimp by-product astaxanthin. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) in vegetable oils, including olive oil (OO), sunflower oil (SO), and flaxseed oil (FO), was employed to extract astaxanthin. The astaxanthin antioxidant activity was evaluated using an ABTS assay, and a mixture of gum Arabic and soy lecithin was used to form coacervates to produce astaxanthin encapsulation. A by-product-vegetable oil ratio of 1:60, extraction time of 210 min, 60% amplitude of the extraction process, and the use of OO as the extracting medium resulted in an astaxanthin yield of 235 ± 4.07 μg astaxanthin/g by-products. The astaxanthin encapsulation efficiency on day 0 and astaxanthin recovery on day 1 were recorded at 66.6 ± 2.7% and 94.4 ± 4.6%, respectively. The utilization of OO as an extraction solvent for astaxanthin from shrimp by-products in UAE represents a novel and promising approach to reducing the environmental impact of shrimp by-products. The effective astaxanthin encapsulation efficiency highlights its potential application in food industries.

Amino acid-based natural deep eutectic solvent combined with ultrasonic extraction: green extraction of astaxanthin from shrimp shells

Amino acid-based natural deep eutectic solvent combined with ultrasonic extraction: green extraction of astaxanthin from shrimp shells

Investigation of the effect of natural astaxanthin on cytotoxicity of mesenchymal stromal cells

The search for new promising dental products that have anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, antibacterial and immunomodulatory effects and at the same time exhibit minimal side effects is quite an urgent task of modern scientific and practical medicine. As part of this work, we have produced four samples of an antioxidant dental gel containing natural astaxanthin. Astaxanthin, which is part of the dental gel, by its chemical structure belongs to the class of carotenoids and is a natural antioxidant present in various amounts in living organisms.&#x0D; The first gel sample we made consisted of natural astaxanthin. An additional substance of the second sample of the preventive gel was interferon [12]. Interferon α has the ability to stimulate the phagocytic activity of macrophages, as well as the cytotoxic activity of T cells and NK cells. It has an indirect antiviral effect, increasing the body’s resistance to viral infections and modulating the immune system’s response aimed at neutralizing viruses or destroying infected cells. The third sample of dental gel contained polyprenol. Polyprenols are precursors of the most important transport lipid of all living organisms, dolichol. Since 2012, polyprenols have been included in the list of the most important essential components of nutrition for normal life support. Polyprenols are included in the list of vital components for the human body, as they are the building material for damaged cells. They help to stabilize cell membranes and restore cells of the brain, heart, liver and other organs, stimulate energy exchange and regenerative potential of body tissues. Polyprenols interact perfectly with antioxidants, increasing the efficiency of their work. The fourth sample included scallop extract as an enhancer of natural astaxanthin.&#x0D; Objective: to evaluate the effect of antioxidant gel on the survival and proliferation of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) of the human umbilical cord.&#x0D; Materials and methods. Antioxidant gel with astaxanthin, astaxanthin with interferon, astaxanthin with polyprenol and astaxanthin with scallop extract were examined for the viability of MSCs in the MTT test and in the PI test.&#x0D; Results. The antioxidant gel with interferon and polyprenol has a proliferative effect on MSCs compared to control samples, which confirms its potential of side effects, antitoxic and wound healing effect. When studying the induction of apoptosis, we found that the percentage of apoptotic cells according to the PI test did not differ from the cells of the control group, which may indicate the absence of apoptosis-inducing effect of drugs on mesenchymal stromal cells.&#x0D; Conclusion. Studying the effects of the developed preventive antioxidant gel with astaxanthin, astaxanthin and interferon, astaxanthin and polyprenol, astaxanthin and scallop extract on the stromal cells of the human umbilical cord, no toxic and side effects were recorded.

Astaxanthin Extract from Haematococcus pluvialis and Its Fractions of Astaxanthin Mono- and Diesters Obtained by CCC Show Differential Antioxidant and Cytoprotective Effects on Naïve-Mouse Spleen Cells.

Carotenoids are the most abundant lipid-soluble phytochemicals and are used as dietary supplements to protect against diseases caused by oxidative stress. Astaxanthin, a xanthophyll carotenoid, is a very potent antioxidant with numerous beneficial effects on cellular functions and signaling pathways. In this study, using spleen cells from healthy Balb/c mice, we report the bio-functional effects of an astaxanthin-rich extract (EXT) prepared from the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis and its astaxanthin monoesters-rich fraction (ME) and astaxanthin diesters-rich fraction (DE) obtained by fractionation of EXT using countercurrent chromatography (CCC). After incubation under standard culture conditions (humidity, 37 °C, 5% CO2, atmospheric oxygen), the viability of untreated splenocytes, as determined by the trypan blue exclusion assay, the MTT assay, and the neutral red assay, decreases to approximately 75% after 24 h compared with naïve splenocytes. This effect correlated with the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and the transition of ~59% of cells to the early stage of apoptosis, as well as with the decreased ROS production, indicating that hyperoxia in cell-culture deteriorates cell functions. They are restored or stimulated by co-cultivation with EXT, ME, and DE up to 10 µg/mL in the order EXT > DE > ME, suggesting that esterification increases bioavailability to cells in vitro. ROS and H2O2 concentrations reflect mRNA transcriptional activity of Nrf2, superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase 1, as well as SOD-mediated ROS conversion, whereas they inversely correlate with iNOS-mediated NO production. The highest-tested concentration of EXT, ME, and DE (40 µg/mL) is detrimental to cells, probably because of the overwhelming scavenging activity of astaxanthin and its esters for the reactive oxygen/nitrogen species required for cellular functions and signal transduction at low physiological concentrations. In this study, we demonstrate that differential activities of ME and DE contribute to the final antioxidant and cytoprotective effects of astaxanthin extract, which is beneficial in preventing a wide range of ROS-induced adverse effects, with DE being more effective. In addition, the selection of physioxia-like conditions for pharmacological research is highlighted.

Removal of Fluoride from Aqueous Solution Using Shrimp Shell Residue as a Biosorbent after Astaxanthin Recovery.

Natural astaxanthin has been widely used in the food, cosmetic, and medicine industries due to its exceptional biological activity. Shrimp shell is one of the primary natural biological sources of astaxanthin. However, after astaxanthin recovery, there is still a lot of chitin contained in the residues. In this study, the residue from shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) shells after astaxanthin extraction using ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium acetate ([Emim]Ac) was used as a bioadsorbent to remove fluoride from the aqueous solution. The results show the IL extraction conditions, including the solid/liquid ratio, temperature, time, and particle size, all played important roles in the removal of fluoride by the shrimp shell residue. The shrimp shells treated using [Emim]Ac at 100 °C for 2 h exhibited an obvious porous structure, and the porosity showed a positive linear correlation with defluorination (DF, %). Moreover, the adsorption process of fluoride was nonspontaneous and endothermic, which fits well with both the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models. The maximum adsorption capacity calculated according to the Langmuir model is 3.29 mg/g, which is better than most bioadsorbents. This study provides a low-cost and efficient method for the preparation of adsorbents from shrimp processing waste to remove fluoride from wastewater.

An In Vitro Evaluation of the Potential Neuroprotective Effects of Intranasal Lipid Nanoparticles Containing Astaxanthin Obtained from Different Sources: Comparative Studies.

The intranasal route has been suggested as a promising alternative to improve the direct transport of molecules to the brain, avoiding the need to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In this area, the use of lipid nanoparticles, namely solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), has been highlighted as a promising strategy to improve the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In this work, formulations containing SLN and NLC that were loaded with astaxanthin that was obtained from different sources (astaxanthin extract (AE) from the algae Haematococcus pluvialis and pure astaxanthin (PA) from the fungi Blakeslea trispora) were prepared for nose-to-brain administration, and comparative in vitro experiments were performed to evaluate the biocompatibility of the formulations with nasal (RPMI 2650) and neuronal (SH-SY5Y) cells. Afterwards, the antioxidant activity of the formulations was evaluated for its potential neuroprotective effects, using different chemical aggressors. Finally, the cellular uptake of the astaxanthin was evaluated for the formulations that showed the greatest neuroprotection of the neuronal cells against chemical-induced damage. On the production day, all the formulations showed a particle size, a high encapsulation efficiency (EE), the presence of nanoparticles with a typical spherical shape, and a polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential (ZP) that are suitable for nose-to-brain administration. After three months of storage at room temperature, no significant changes were observed in the characterization parameters, predicting a good long-term stability. Furthermore, these formulations were shown to be safe with concentrations of up to 100 µg/mL in differentiated SH-SY5Y and RPMI 2650 cells. Regarding neuroprotection studies, the PA-loaded SLN and NLC formulations showed an ability to counteract some mechanisms of neurodegeneration, including oxidative stress. Moreover, when compared with the PA-loaded SLN, the PA-loaded NLC showed greater neuroprotective effects against the cytotoxicity induced by aggressors. In contrast, the AE-loaded SLN and NLC formulations showed no significant neuroprotective effects. Although further studies are needed to confirm these neuroprotective effects, the results of this study suggest that the intranasal administration of PA-loaded NLC may be a promising alternative to improve the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

One-Pot, Water-Based Disruption of Cell Walls and Astaxanthin Extraction from Haematococcus pluvialis by Mechanochemistry

In this study, a new method for efficient astaxanthin extraction from Haematococcus pluvialis (H. pluvialis) by mechanochemistry was developed. The method is a water-based and water-reused one-pot procedure, which can simultaneously achieve cell wall breaking and astaxanthin extraction from H. pluvialis. In addition, the optimized process parameters were determined based on studies of different conditions; an elevated recovery of astaxanthin extraction yield (91.6 wt %) was achieved using 1 g of dried H. pluvialis and 4 mL of water at 200 rpm in 30 min with a ball-to-material ratio of 90 (m/m). The underlying mechanism revealed the extraction process by electron microscopy, thermodynamic analysis, spectroscopic determination, and particle size distribution analysis. The results of this study followed the sustainability criteria that include the concept of circular economy and contribute to the achievement of items 3, 6, 12, and 14 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.1 This method innovates a new way for green and gentle extraction of natural fatty-soluble substances.

Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) and Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) for Valorization of Red (Aristeus antennatus) and Camarote (Melicertus kerathurus) Shrimp Side Streams: Antioxidant and HPLC Evaluation of the Carotenoid Astaxanthin Recovery.

Shrimp side streams represent an important natural source of astaxanthin. Optimization of the astaxanthin extraction process from shrimp side streams is of great importance for the valorization of crustacean side streams and the development of astaxanthin-related products. The combined and independent effects of two innovative extraction technologies (pulsed electric fields (PEFs) and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE)) alone and/or combined in a sequential step, using two different solvents on astaxanthin extraction from two shrimp species, were evaluated. Astaxanthin content in the extracts of shrimp side streams was determined by both spectrophotometric and HPLC assays, being the determination of the carotenoid profiles performed by HPLC analysis. Compared to a solvent extraction control procedure, the astaxanthin content was increased after ASE and PEF treatments, for both shrimp species, independently of the solvent used. The highest recovery (585.90 µg/g) was obtained for the species A. antennatus, with the solvent DMSO when PEF and ASE were combined, while the increase in antioxidant capacity varied depending on the solvent used. HPLC analysis of the samples revealed the presence of unesterified (all-E) astaxanthin, four unesterified Z isomers of astaxanthin and many unresolved astaxanthin esters. Both technologies are useful tools to recover antioxidant valuable carotenoids such as astaxanthin from shrimp side streams.