346
J. Jeevanandam et al.
14.4.2.1 β-Carotenoids
Fat soluble of β-carotenoid pigments obtained from certain photosynthetic bacteria,
algae, and plants, they perform as an important photosynthetic component. It is
predominantly isolated from the stenohaline species Dunaliella salina, the dried
biomass of these algae composes of almost 10% of dried biomass, this is the highest
among all species (Prieto et al. 2011b). After a successful pilot study in culturing
these organisms by the USSR in 1960, many nations followed the lead in successful
commercialization of Dunaliella salina. Annual production rates across the globe
ranges around 1200 tons, with Australia as the leading producer. The worldwide
market for this species is expected to be 1.8 billion dollars in this current year, this is
a leap of 0.3 billion dollars from the levels in past demi-decade. The global demand
of cyanobacteria-based pigments is predicted to increase in the next fiscal year and
it is expected to shoot in the future to meet 1-billion-pound mark.
14.4.2.2 Chlorophyll and Astaxanthin
Chlorella microalgal species are considered as the Emerald food due to its richness
in chlorophyll along with 7% of the biomass, which is roughly five times of the
Spirulina chlorophyll content. It is an organic colorant of food that contains rich
antioxidant content and acts as an antimutagenic agent. The Weiwang company in
Taiwan was the first to commercially produce Chlorella at diverse scales in industries
(Bewicke and Potter 2009b) and they are grown in large plastic tubes to harvest more
solar radiation for efficient growth.
Astaxanthin is considered an efficient medicinal agent that can cure neurodegenerative diseases, high-cholesterol, hepatic dysfunctions, geriatric muscular atrophy,
and for the prevention of malignancy. It is also used as a therapeutic agent for
metabolic syndromes. In certain conditions, it is given as a supplement for increasing
muscle fitness, endurance, increasing the exercise performance, decreasing muscle
soreness after exercise. Oral intake of astaxanthin prevents sunburn, reduces sleep
apnea, insomnia, dyspepsia, infertility disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome, rheumatoid
arthritis, and menopausal syndrome. Direct application on the skin, reduces sunburn
and wrinkles; it is also used as a colorant in few other cosmetics. It is beneficial as
a supplement in food for egg laying chicken in the poultry industry. It works as an
antioxidant and prevents cell damage. The investment return for distinct astaxanthin
market prices are assessed to understand the economic viability of these phycopigments. Market astaxanthin value varies between $2500–7000/kg with a global market
value of 280 metric tons/year (Panis and Carreon 2016).
J. Jeevanandam et al.
14.4.2.1 β-Carotenoids
Fat soluble of β-carotenoid pigments obtained from certain photosynthetic bacteria,
algae, and plants, they perform as an important photosynthetic component. It is
predominantly isolated from the stenohaline species Dunaliella salina, the dried
biomass of these algae composes of almost 10% of dried biomass, this is the highest
among all species (Prieto et al. 2011b). After a successful pilot study in culturing
these organisms by the USSR in 1960, many nations followed the lead in successful
commercialization of Dunaliella salina. Annual production rates across the globe
ranges around 1200 tons, with Australia as the leading producer. The worldwide
market for this species is expected to be 1.8 billion dollars in this current year, this is
a leap of 0.3 billion dollars from the levels in past demi-decade. The global demand
of cyanobacteria-based pigments is predicted to increase in the next fiscal year and
it is expected to shoot in the future to meet 1-billion-pound mark.
14.4.2.2 Chlorophyll and Astaxanthin
Chlorella microalgal species are considered as the Emerald food due to its richness
in chlorophyll along with 7% of the biomass, which is roughly five times of the
Spirulina chlorophyll content. It is an organic colorant of food that contains rich
antioxidant content and acts as an antimutagenic agent. The Weiwang company in
Taiwan was the first to commercially produce Chlorella at diverse scales in industries
(Bewicke and Potter 2009b) and they are grown in large plastic tubes to harvest more
solar radiation for efficient growth.
Astaxanthin is considered an efficient medicinal agent that can cure neurodegenerative diseases, high-cholesterol, hepatic dysfunctions, geriatric muscular atrophy,
and for the prevention of malignancy. It is also used as a therapeutic agent for
metabolic syndromes. In certain conditions, it is given as a supplement for increasing
muscle fitness, endurance, increasing the exercise performance, decreasing muscle
soreness after exercise. Oral intake of astaxanthin prevents sunburn, reduces sleep
apnea, insomnia, dyspepsia, infertility disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome, rheumatoid
arthritis, and menopausal syndrome. Direct application on the skin, reduces sunburn
and wrinkles; it is also used as a colorant in few other cosmetics. It is beneficial as
a supplement in food for egg laying chicken in the poultry industry. It works as an
antioxidant and prevents cell damage. The investment return for distinct astaxanthin
market prices are assessed to understand the economic viability of these phycopigments. Market astaxanthin value varies between $2500–7000/kg with a global market
value of 280 metric tons/year (Panis and Carreon 2016).