19 Use of Microalgae Pigments in Aquaculture
503
light intensity (García-González et al. 2005). It can be suggested that relatively high
production rate of β-carotene is obtained in D. salina. On the other hand, the contents
of canthaxanthin and zeaxanthin have not been achieved at a high level, requiring
improvement of biotechnology for the production methods (Jin et al. 2003; Pelah
et al. 2004).
19.9 Conclusions
Due to the stagnation of capture fisheries and increasing demand for fishery products, aquaculture grows at the fastest rate compared to other global food producing
sectors. However, aquaculture industry is facing various threats related to poor nutrition, slow growth and rampant diseases. One of the means to improve productivity
in aquaculture industry is to enhance health through therapeutic nutrition such as
utilizing microalgae pigments as feed supplements which contain high carotenoids,
phycobiliproteins, antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Microalgae are a valuable source of highly nutritive polyunsaturated fatty acids
(PUFA), protein hydrolysates and bioactive peptides and a variety of biomolecules
including pigments such as chlorophylls, carotenoids, phycobiliproteins and phenolic
compounds acids which are high in antioxidants and suitable for immune enhancement in humans and animals. These growth and health enhancement properties
of microalgae are conducive for the development of functional, nutritional and
therapeutic commodities.
Microalgae pigments including chlorophylls, carotenoids and phycobiliproteins
also exhibit protective effects against several health disorders in humans and animals
in addition to their effects of growth and survival that they have wide applications in food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical and aquaculture industries. In aquaculture, microalgal pigments are now becoming popular since synthetic
pigments are associated with harmful effects. The potential use of natural products
for valuable biomolecules has led the search of microalgae as a source of antioxidants, natural colours and food additives, which are important aspects in aquaculture
industry.
Carotenoids, consisting mainly of carotenes and xanthophylls are important
nutritive pigments for many aquatic animals, but most animals cannot synthesize
carotenoids de novo and depend on dietary supplements for the growth, health and
pigmentation enhancement. Major carotenoid pigments such as astaxanthin, fucoxanthin, canthaxanthin and β-carotenes have been proven effective in aquaculture
industry to enhance skin pigmentation, growth, survival, health and productivity.
Similarly, phycobiliproteins are also important in reducing cannibalism, improve
survival and enhance immune response in cultured animals. However, the commercial production of microalgal pigments is still limited to a few species. In addition,
cost-effective technologies for large scale production of microalgae pigments are
still inadequate to meet the growing demands of these valuable products. Thus, more
research and novel approaches in microalgal pigment production and utilization are
503
light intensity (García-González et al. 2005). It can be suggested that relatively high
production rate of β-carotene is obtained in D. salina. On the other hand, the contents
of canthaxanthin and zeaxanthin have not been achieved at a high level, requiring
improvement of biotechnology for the production methods (Jin et al. 2003; Pelah
et al. 2004).
19.9 Conclusions
Due to the stagnation of capture fisheries and increasing demand for fishery products, aquaculture grows at the fastest rate compared to other global food producing
sectors. However, aquaculture industry is facing various threats related to poor nutrition, slow growth and rampant diseases. One of the means to improve productivity
in aquaculture industry is to enhance health through therapeutic nutrition such as
utilizing microalgae pigments as feed supplements which contain high carotenoids,
phycobiliproteins, antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Microalgae are a valuable source of highly nutritive polyunsaturated fatty acids
(PUFA), protein hydrolysates and bioactive peptides and a variety of biomolecules
including pigments such as chlorophylls, carotenoids, phycobiliproteins and phenolic
compounds acids which are high in antioxidants and suitable for immune enhancement in humans and animals. These growth and health enhancement properties
of microalgae are conducive for the development of functional, nutritional and
therapeutic commodities.
Microalgae pigments including chlorophylls, carotenoids and phycobiliproteins
also exhibit protective effects against several health disorders in humans and animals
in addition to their effects of growth and survival that they have wide applications in food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical and aquaculture industries. In aquaculture, microalgal pigments are now becoming popular since synthetic
pigments are associated with harmful effects. The potential use of natural products
for valuable biomolecules has led the search of microalgae as a source of antioxidants, natural colours and food additives, which are important aspects in aquaculture
industry.
Carotenoids, consisting mainly of carotenes and xanthophylls are important
nutritive pigments for many aquatic animals, but most animals cannot synthesize
carotenoids de novo and depend on dietary supplements for the growth, health and
pigmentation enhancement. Major carotenoid pigments such as astaxanthin, fucoxanthin, canthaxanthin and β-carotenes have been proven effective in aquaculture
industry to enhance skin pigmentation, growth, survival, health and productivity.
Similarly, phycobiliproteins are also important in reducing cannibalism, improve
survival and enhance immune response in cultured animals. However, the commercial production of microalgal pigments is still limited to a few species. In addition,
cost-effective technologies for large scale production of microalgae pigments are
still inadequate to meet the growing demands of these valuable products. Thus, more
research and novel approaches in microalgal pigment production and utilization are