Algae biotechnology products and their application in the food and pharmaceutical industries

Abstract

Introduction. The scientific community is constantly looking for new sources of natural chemical compounds to satisfy humanity worldwide with the need for quality phyto-medicines drugs and balanced foods. During the last time, the scientists have the main subject for scientific research algae as potential producers of different useful biochemicals. Aim of the study. To evidentiate the algae species as producers in biotechnological medicine. Materials and methods. The profile literature and databases on microalgae as biotechnological producers in alimentary and pharmaceutical industries were evaluated and analyzed. Results. Microalgae are sunlight – driven cell factories that are able to efficiently utilize CO2 for the production of biochemicals such as polysaccharides, proteins, oils, vitamins, carotenoids and others. We evidentiated some algal taxons and application of their biotechnological products in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries: Aphanizomenon flos-aquae produces mycosporine-like amino acids used as UV-screening agent; Amphidinium sp. – macrolides amphidinolide as antitumoral remedy; Ascophyllum nodosum – proteins used in cosmetics as anti-aging agent; Chlorella sp. – proteins, carotenoids, triglycerides and hydrocarbons as immune stimulator and free radicals scavenger; Ch. zofingiensis – astaxanthin as antioxidant remedy; Ch. vulgaris – biochemicals stimulating collagen production in the skin; Crypthecodinium cohnii dinoflagellates are used to produce docosahexaenoic acid; Dunaliella salina – B-carotene used as colorant, antioxidant, and cancer-preventive properties; Nostoc flagelliforme – pigments echinenone and myxoxanthophyll, allophycocyanin, phycocyanin and chlorophyll, 19 amino acids, vitamin B12, cryptophycin used for the treatment of diarrhea, hepatitis, and hypertension; Haematococcus pluvialis – astaxanthin as antioxidant, used in nutraceutical, cosmetics, food and feed industries; Spirulina platensis – proteins, g-linolenic acid, vitamins, applicated as nutritional supplements, and infant formulas. Conclusions. There is indeed a wide range of applications of microalgae in biotechnology and a great potential to further exploit the rich microalgal resources for various biotechnological applications in medicine. They are potential sources of high-value products, that may lead to the discovery of new generation of drugs.