14 The Bioeconomy of Production of Microalgal Pigments
337
the world (Australia, Israel, USA, India, and China) for β-carotene production with
Australia being the major producer (Kleinegris et al. 2011)
The initial step of carotenoid extraction and purification involves separation
of algal biomass from liquid media by centrifugation, flocculation, and filtration.
Later, the biomasses were processed by specific drying methods. Carotenoids are
extracted from various microalgae, namely, D. salina, C. vulgaris, Spirulina pacifica
and Nannochloropsis gaditana by supercritical fluid extraction approach (MaciasSanchez et al. 2009; Careri et al. 2001). Likewise, the supercritical CO 2 crystallization
method with organic solvent and edible are utilized for the extraction of β-carotene
from Dunaliella biomass. The marine algae Synechococcus sp. is evaluated in terms
of effective operating pressure and temperature on efficiency of β-carotene extraction using supercritical CO 2 (Montero et al. 2005). Multiple studies have shown
that extraction processes that are operated at the temperature between 40–80 °C and
pressure between 20–40 MPa, selectively separates carotenoid molecule from algal
biomass (Khanra et al. 2018). Moreover, supercritical dimethyl ether is utilized for
efficient fucoxanthin extraction from microalgae U. pinnatifida (Kanda et al. 2014).
14.3.3.1 Applications of Carotenoids
Commercially available carotenoids include β-carotene, zeaxanthin, lycopene,
canthaxanthin, lutein, and astaxanthin (Sathasivam and Ki 2018), that are used as
provitamins, antioxidants, immune boosters, antiageing, and anticancer agents. Out
of all carotenoids, β-carotene is the most commonly occurring, first commercialized carotenoid with diverse biological functions. Carotenoids are not vitamins, but
these molecules have provitamin A activity and performs diverse biological functions in humans (Pisal and Lele 2005; Vilchez et al. 2011). There are approximately
60 carotenoids that can act as precursors of vitamin (1 ug retinol = 2 ug β-carotene).
In humans, β-carotene is converted to vitamin A through the activity of skin tissues.
Further, vitamin A highly necessary and efficient in the human body, as it prevents
cataracts, night blindness, skin diseases and boosts the immune system (Agarwal and
Rao 2000). Multivitamin and healthy food formulations also contain β-carotene as
provitamin A (Spolaore et al. 2006a)
β-carotene from Dunaliella has been approved as a natural colorant by the United
States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be beneficial in food and cosmetic
industries as well as drugs to cure diseases. These carotenes possess ability to elevate
the appearances of food products. Furthermore, it is beneficial as a food supplement, as feed in poultry and aquaculture (Christaki et al. 2013) in powder form.
Additionally, it is also used as a colorant and a provitamin supplement in pet foods
(Cantrell et al. 2003). Further, β-carotene gained potential significance in the cosmetic
industry as sunscreen lotions, nail paints, lipsticks, and anti-aging creams. An interesting property of carotenoids is their antioxidant activity to protect the cells from
harmful free radicals by quenching and scavenging processes. The antioxidant property is due to the physical and chemical interactions of these pigments with cell
membranes. Thus, these pigments act as immune modulators, prevents the onset of
337
the world (Australia, Israel, USA, India, and China) for β-carotene production with
Australia being the major producer (Kleinegris et al. 2011)
The initial step of carotenoid extraction and purification involves separation
of algal biomass from liquid media by centrifugation, flocculation, and filtration.
Later, the biomasses were processed by specific drying methods. Carotenoids are
extracted from various microalgae, namely, D. salina, C. vulgaris, Spirulina pacifica
and Nannochloropsis gaditana by supercritical fluid extraction approach (MaciasSanchez et al. 2009; Careri et al. 2001). Likewise, the supercritical CO 2 crystallization
method with organic solvent and edible are utilized for the extraction of β-carotene
from Dunaliella biomass. The marine algae Synechococcus sp. is evaluated in terms
of effective operating pressure and temperature on efficiency of β-carotene extraction using supercritical CO 2 (Montero et al. 2005). Multiple studies have shown
that extraction processes that are operated at the temperature between 40–80 °C and
pressure between 20–40 MPa, selectively separates carotenoid molecule from algal
biomass (Khanra et al. 2018). Moreover, supercritical dimethyl ether is utilized for
efficient fucoxanthin extraction from microalgae U. pinnatifida (Kanda et al. 2014).
14.3.3.1 Applications of Carotenoids
Commercially available carotenoids include β-carotene, zeaxanthin, lycopene,
canthaxanthin, lutein, and astaxanthin (Sathasivam and Ki 2018), that are used as
provitamins, antioxidants, immune boosters, antiageing, and anticancer agents. Out
of all carotenoids, β-carotene is the most commonly occurring, first commercialized carotenoid with diverse biological functions. Carotenoids are not vitamins, but
these molecules have provitamin A activity and performs diverse biological functions in humans (Pisal and Lele 2005; Vilchez et al. 2011). There are approximately
60 carotenoids that can act as precursors of vitamin (1 ug retinol = 2 ug β-carotene).
In humans, β-carotene is converted to vitamin A through the activity of skin tissues.
Further, vitamin A highly necessary and efficient in the human body, as it prevents
cataracts, night blindness, skin diseases and boosts the immune system (Agarwal and
Rao 2000). Multivitamin and healthy food formulations also contain β-carotene as
provitamin A (Spolaore et al. 2006a)
β-carotene from Dunaliella has been approved as a natural colorant by the United
States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be beneficial in food and cosmetic
industries as well as drugs to cure diseases. These carotenes possess ability to elevate
the appearances of food products. Furthermore, it is beneficial as a food supplement, as feed in poultry and aquaculture (Christaki et al. 2013) in powder form.
Additionally, it is also used as a colorant and a provitamin supplement in pet foods
(Cantrell et al. 2003). Further, β-carotene gained potential significance in the cosmetic
industry as sunscreen lotions, nail paints, lipsticks, and anti-aging creams. An interesting property of carotenoids is their antioxidant activity to protect the cells from
harmful free radicals by quenching and scavenging processes. The antioxidant property is due to the physical and chemical interactions of these pigments with cell
membranes. Thus, these pigments act as immune modulators, prevents the onset of