482
F. Md. Yusoff et al.
19.4.2 Fucoxanthin
Fucoxanthin is one of the microalgal pigments that can only be found in marine environment, including Phaeophyta (brown seaweeds) and Bacillariophyceae (diatoms).
Like any other carotenoids, fucoxanthin has strong antioxidant activities and other
health-related properties such as anti-inflammatory, anticholinesterase, anticancer
and anti-obesity (Viera et al. 2018). In fact, fucoxanthin scavenges free radicals
better than other pigments such as β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein
and zeaxanthin. Fucoxanthin has attracted great interest due to its high potential
and promising application in human and animal health (Foo et al. 2019), including
aquaculture.
19.4.3 Beta-Carotene and Other Carotenoids
Besides astaxanthin and fucoxanthin, β-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and canthaxanthin (Table 19.2) are also important in human health and other health-related
activities. β-carotene is one of the carotenoid pigments, that acts as a precursor
to vitamin A. β-carotene is commercially produced from Dunaliella salina, mainly
in China, India, Australia, Israel and USA. Lutein is a yellow xanthophyll pigment
commonly found in terrestrial plants and is well known for its potential to reduce
age-related muscular degeneration (Heo et al. 2018). Microalgae were reported to
have lower lutein productivity compared to conventional sources from terrestrial
plants. However, Heo et al. (2018) suggested that new microalgae species have the
potential to produce high lutein and other carotenoid concentrations and should be
explored.
19.5 Phycobiliproteins
Phycobiliproteins are a major component of the photosynthetic membrane in
cyanobacteria, red algae, cryptomonads and glaucophytes (Schirmer et al. 1985),
which possess brilliant colours and have highly fluorescent light-harvesting proteins
accessory. Phycobiliproteins are water-soluble and form particles (phycobilisomes)
on the surface of thylakoids, unlike chlorophylls and carotenoids (Jian-Feng et al.
2006. Normally, phycobiliproteins make up 24% of the total cellular proteins (dry
mass) (Glazer 1985; Grossman et al. 1993; Cai et al. 2001). Nonetheless, the content
of phycobiliproteins can be boosted up to 40% under low light intensity (Glazer
1994).
Phycobiliproteins are classified based on their colour and absorption properties.
Phycobiliproteins can efficiently absorb sunlight at λ 480–660 nm (Sun et al. 2003)
due to its various spectral properties as the bilins have individual absorption spectra
F. Md. Yusoff et al.
19.4.2 Fucoxanthin
Fucoxanthin is one of the microalgal pigments that can only be found in marine environment, including Phaeophyta (brown seaweeds) and Bacillariophyceae (diatoms).
Like any other carotenoids, fucoxanthin has strong antioxidant activities and other
health-related properties such as anti-inflammatory, anticholinesterase, anticancer
and anti-obesity (Viera et al. 2018). In fact, fucoxanthin scavenges free radicals
better than other pigments such as β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein
and zeaxanthin. Fucoxanthin has attracted great interest due to its high potential
and promising application in human and animal health (Foo et al. 2019), including
aquaculture.
19.4.3 Beta-Carotene and Other Carotenoids
Besides astaxanthin and fucoxanthin, β-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and canthaxanthin (Table 19.2) are also important in human health and other health-related
activities. β-carotene is one of the carotenoid pigments, that acts as a precursor
to vitamin A. β-carotene is commercially produced from Dunaliella salina, mainly
in China, India, Australia, Israel and USA. Lutein is a yellow xanthophyll pigment
commonly found in terrestrial plants and is well known for its potential to reduce
age-related muscular degeneration (Heo et al. 2018). Microalgae were reported to
have lower lutein productivity compared to conventional sources from terrestrial
plants. However, Heo et al. (2018) suggested that new microalgae species have the
potential to produce high lutein and other carotenoid concentrations and should be
explored.
19.5 Phycobiliproteins
Phycobiliproteins are a major component of the photosynthetic membrane in
cyanobacteria, red algae, cryptomonads and glaucophytes (Schirmer et al. 1985),
which possess brilliant colours and have highly fluorescent light-harvesting proteins
accessory. Phycobiliproteins are water-soluble and form particles (phycobilisomes)
on the surface of thylakoids, unlike chlorophylls and carotenoids (Jian-Feng et al.
2006. Normally, phycobiliproteins make up 24% of the total cellular proteins (dry
mass) (Glazer 1985; Grossman et al. 1993; Cai et al. 2001). Nonetheless, the content
of phycobiliproteins can be boosted up to 40% under low light intensity (Glazer
1994).
Phycobiliproteins are classified based on their colour and absorption properties.
Phycobiliproteins can efficiently absorb sunlight at λ 480–660 nm (Sun et al. 2003)
due to its various spectral properties as the bilins have individual absorption spectra