474
F. Md. Yusoff et al.
to synthesize polyunsaturated fatty acids and carotenoids and phenolic compounds
with high antioxidative properties. In fact, most microalgae have characteristics that
are required to be natural supplements in human (Brizio et al. 2013) and animal
feeds including aquaculture. Their high contents of lipids and fatty acids make them
valuable alternatives for replacement of fish meals in livestock and fish feeds. The
much needed polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and beta-1,3-glucan, and other
biomolecules associated with health are also found in many microalgae species (Foo
et al. 2019). In addition, microalgae have valuable pigments such as astaxanthin,
lutein, beta-carotene, chlorophylls and phycobiliproteins (Begum et al. 2016; Foo
et al. 2017).
The demand for natural and healthier food is increasing worldwide. Commercially,
industries related to food and beverages, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals and aquaculture use algal pigments such as beta-carotene, astaxanthin, fucoxanthin, lutein, chlorophylls, phytocyanin and phycoerythrin. Due to these valuable
health-related properties, global algae products market account for USD3.4 billion
in 2017 and is expected to reach USD 6.09 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR
(compound annual growth rate) of 6.7% (Globe Newswire 2019). The natural food
colour business in 2016 was USD1.3 billion with 6.8% annual growth rate, and is
expected to reach USD1.77 billion by 2021 (Kannaujiya et al. 2017).
As human dietary supplements, pigments such as carotenoids and phycobiliproteins function as anticancer, therapeutic treatment against pathogenic bacteria,
booster of immunity and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Lycopene has been
reported to have the capacity to prevent prostate cancer (van Breemen et al. 2012).
In addition, microalgae pigments are also used in poultry and livestock industries
(Higuera-Ciapara et al. 2006). In fact, microalgae are not only used as food and health
products, but also as the feedstocks for biofuels (Medipally et al. 2015; Rastogi et al.
2018; Rizwan et al. 2018). Due to their fast growth, microalgae have been noted
to be more efficient producers of biofuels compared to land plants, especially those
microalgae species with enhanced lipid production when grown using waste-waters
and flue-gas (Mohamed Ramli et al. 2017; Foo et al. 2019).
19.3 Microalgae Pigments
Microalgae pigments are chemical compounds with distinct light spectrum and
wavelength which are involved in the photosynthesis as light energy absorbers.
These pigments are known to contain health-promoting properties such as antiinflammatory agents, immune enhancers, antioxidants and vitamin precursors. Thus,
numerous studies have been conducted on the potential of microalgae-derived
pigments for commercial application in pharmaceutical, cosmetics, health supplement and feed industries. There are three major groups of pigments in microalgae;
chlorophylls (all higher plants and photosynthetic algae and bacteria); carotenoids
(some higher plants and most algae) and phycobiliproteins which are exclusive to
cyanobacteria and some red algae. In microalgae, pigments can be grouped into three
F. Md. Yusoff et al.
to synthesize polyunsaturated fatty acids and carotenoids and phenolic compounds
with high antioxidative properties. In fact, most microalgae have characteristics that
are required to be natural supplements in human (Brizio et al. 2013) and animal
feeds including aquaculture. Their high contents of lipids and fatty acids make them
valuable alternatives for replacement of fish meals in livestock and fish feeds. The
much needed polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and beta-1,3-glucan, and other
biomolecules associated with health are also found in many microalgae species (Foo
et al. 2019). In addition, microalgae have valuable pigments such as astaxanthin,
lutein, beta-carotene, chlorophylls and phycobiliproteins (Begum et al. 2016; Foo
et al. 2017).
The demand for natural and healthier food is increasing worldwide. Commercially,
industries related to food and beverages, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals and aquaculture use algal pigments such as beta-carotene, astaxanthin, fucoxanthin, lutein, chlorophylls, phytocyanin and phycoerythrin. Due to these valuable
health-related properties, global algae products market account for USD3.4 billion
in 2017 and is expected to reach USD 6.09 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR
(compound annual growth rate) of 6.7% (Globe Newswire 2019). The natural food
colour business in 2016 was USD1.3 billion with 6.8% annual growth rate, and is
expected to reach USD1.77 billion by 2021 (Kannaujiya et al. 2017).
As human dietary supplements, pigments such as carotenoids and phycobiliproteins function as anticancer, therapeutic treatment against pathogenic bacteria,
booster of immunity and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Lycopene has been
reported to have the capacity to prevent prostate cancer (van Breemen et al. 2012).
In addition, microalgae pigments are also used in poultry and livestock industries
(Higuera-Ciapara et al. 2006). In fact, microalgae are not only used as food and health
products, but also as the feedstocks for biofuels (Medipally et al. 2015; Rastogi et al.
2018; Rizwan et al. 2018). Due to their fast growth, microalgae have been noted
to be more efficient producers of biofuels compared to land plants, especially those
microalgae species with enhanced lipid production when grown using waste-waters
and flue-gas (Mohamed Ramli et al. 2017; Foo et al. 2019).
19.3 Microalgae Pigments
Microalgae pigments are chemical compounds with distinct light spectrum and
wavelength which are involved in the photosynthesis as light energy absorbers.
These pigments are known to contain health-promoting properties such as antiinflammatory agents, immune enhancers, antioxidants and vitamin precursors. Thus,
numerous studies have been conducted on the potential of microalgae-derived
pigments for commercial application in pharmaceutical, cosmetics, health supplement and feed industries. There are three major groups of pigments in microalgae;
chlorophylls (all higher plants and photosynthetic algae and bacteria); carotenoids
(some higher plants and most algae) and phycobiliproteins which are exclusive to
cyanobacteria and some red algae. In microalgae, pigments can be grouped into three