Saccharina latissima, which showed scavenging activity towards the radical 2,20 -azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazolin-6-sulphonate) [20].
2.2 Carotenoids
Carotenoids are a large family of yellow to orange colored pigments containing eight
isoprene units [21]. These carotenoids are composed of C-40 hydrocarbon chains,
providing a backbone that imparts unique molecular structure and chemical properties like light absorption which is a requisite for photosynthesis process [22]. The
demand for new, unique natural compounds and colorants in food, cosmetic, and
pharmaceutical industry has evoked interest in carotenoids derived from microalgae
as these are a potential source of variety of high value carotenoids. Astaxanthin,
β-carotene, lutein, violaxanthin, and fucoxanthin are some of the algal carotenoids
that are successfully utilized for biomedical applications. Microalgae are preferred
over other biological materials for the production of carotenoids because of their
abundant biomass, high yield, cost-effective, simple, and eco-friendly process of
production [23, 24]. Algal carotenoids showcase antioxidant, antitumor, antifungal,
antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties [25, 26] and are usually
extracted by green technologies like microwave-assisted extraction, supercritical
fluid extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, etc. [23, 24]. Astaxanthin from
Haematococcus pluvialis and Chlorella vulgaris, violaxanthin from Chlorella
pyrenoidosa, lutein from Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Haematococcus pluvialis, and
Scenedesmus obliquus have antioxidant properties. Astaxanthin from Haematococcus
pluvialis and violaxanthin from Chlorella ellipsoidea are known to have antiinflammatory property. Fucoxanthin from Odontella aurita, Chaetoseros sp., and
Isochrysis galbana displayed anticancer activities [27].
2.3 Antioxidants
Presently, large numbers of antioxidants are utilized by different food and pharmaceutical industries to reduce the oxidative adulteration of food products and medicines. However, the utilization of synthetic antioxidants like butylated
hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and t-butyl hydroquinone
for the production of food and medicines has been cramped owing to its toxic effects
[28]. Consequently, there is a requirement to explore novel, natural, and cheap
antioxidants from natural sources. Microalgal extracts are a potential source of
natural antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, astaxanthin, tocopherols, catechins,
tannins, flavonoids, etc. that can be successfully used as supplement in human
nutrition, in meat to prevent oxidation process, as animal feed and in aquaculture
[29–32]. Some of the microalgal species that are utilized for the production of
Applications and Efficacy of Exceptional Bioactive Compounds from Microalgae
165
2.2 Carotenoids
Carotenoids are a large family of yellow to orange colored pigments containing eight
isoprene units [21]. These carotenoids are composed of C-40 hydrocarbon chains,
providing a backbone that imparts unique molecular structure and chemical properties like light absorption which is a requisite for photosynthesis process [22]. The
demand for new, unique natural compounds and colorants in food, cosmetic, and
pharmaceutical industry has evoked interest in carotenoids derived from microalgae
as these are a potential source of variety of high value carotenoids. Astaxanthin,
β-carotene, lutein, violaxanthin, and fucoxanthin are some of the algal carotenoids
that are successfully utilized for biomedical applications. Microalgae are preferred
over other biological materials for the production of carotenoids because of their
abundant biomass, high yield, cost-effective, simple, and eco-friendly process of
production [23, 24]. Algal carotenoids showcase antioxidant, antitumor, antifungal,
antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties [25, 26] and are usually
extracted by green technologies like microwave-assisted extraction, supercritical
fluid extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, etc. [23, 24]. Astaxanthin from
Haematococcus pluvialis and Chlorella vulgaris, violaxanthin from Chlorella
pyrenoidosa, lutein from Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Haematococcus pluvialis, and
Scenedesmus obliquus have antioxidant properties. Astaxanthin from Haematococcus
pluvialis and violaxanthin from Chlorella ellipsoidea are known to have antiinflammatory property. Fucoxanthin from Odontella aurita, Chaetoseros sp., and
Isochrysis galbana displayed anticancer activities [27].
2.3 Antioxidants
Presently, large numbers of antioxidants are utilized by different food and pharmaceutical industries to reduce the oxidative adulteration of food products and medicines. However, the utilization of synthetic antioxidants like butylated
hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and t-butyl hydroquinone
for the production of food and medicines has been cramped owing to its toxic effects
[28]. Consequently, there is a requirement to explore novel, natural, and cheap
antioxidants from natural sources. Microalgal extracts are a potential source of
natural antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, astaxanthin, tocopherols, catechins,
tannins, flavonoids, etc. that can be successfully used as supplement in human
nutrition, in meat to prevent oxidation process, as animal feed and in aquaculture
[29–32]. Some of the microalgal species that are utilized for the production of
Applications and Efficacy of Exceptional Bioactive Compounds from Microalgae
165