Nowadays, applications of microalgae biomass are evident in various commercial
sectors like the food industry, aquaculture feed, pharmaceuticals (including skin
care), agro-industry, and oil and energy sector.
4.3.1 Microalgae and Food Additives/Nutrient Supplement
Due to the presence of sources rich in crucial nutrients including vitamins A, C, B1,
B2, and B6 and niacin, microalgae are considered to constitute a primary source of
food. Widely commercialized microalgae used mainly as nutritional supplements for
humans and as animal feed additives are Chlorella, Haematococcus, Dunaliella, and
Spirulina. The most important microalgae grown for its photosynthetic pigment and
beta-carotene (orange dye as a food colorant and as a vitamin C supplement) are
Dunaliella. New findings suggest that beta-carotene acts as an anticarcinogenic
agent and is also effective in controlling cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart
disease. These properties make it a more valuable product, and it is expected to
increase people’s demand for it. Arthrospira sp. is another proteinaceous microalga,
commercialized for its excellent nutritional value and other possible healthpromoting properties (Spolaore et al. 2006). Chlorella minutissima is a marine
algae with a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and is useful
in preventing or treating several diseases (Priyadarshani and Rath 2012).
4.3.2 Microalgae in Cosmetics
Species of Ascophyllum, Alaria, Spirulina, Arthrospira, Nannochloropsis, Chlorella, and Dunaliella are species specifically utilized for cosmetics production as
thickening agents, water-binding agents, and antioxidants. Extracts from microalgae
are found in skin care products as antiaging cream, sun protection creams, refreshing
agents, emollients, anti-irritant in peelers, etc. (Spolaore et al. 2006).
4.3.3 Microalgae as Fertilizers
Microalgae serving as biofertilizers and soil conditioners in agriculture are widely
applied in India and Southeast Asia. Cyanobacteria play a vital role in maintaining
and building up of soil fertility, functioning as a natural biofertilizer through its
ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. A variety of free-living cyanobacteria have now
been identified as active components to benefit crop plants by producing various
growth-promoting substances such as vitamin B12 and auxins like indole-3-acetic
acid, indole-3-propionic acid, or 3-methylindole. Furthermore blue-green algae such
as Nostoc, Anabaena, Tolypothrix, and Aulosira can be employed as inoculants for
paddy crops to increase yield and improve the soil physicochemical properties
(Priyadarshani and Rath 2012).
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sectors like the food industry, aquaculture feed, pharmaceuticals (including skin
care), agro-industry, and oil and energy sector.
4.3.1 Microalgae and Food Additives/Nutrient Supplement
Due to the presence of sources rich in crucial nutrients including vitamins A, C, B1,
B2, and B6 and niacin, microalgae are considered to constitute a primary source of
food. Widely commercialized microalgae used mainly as nutritional supplements for
humans and as animal feed additives are Chlorella, Haematococcus, Dunaliella, and
Spirulina. The most important microalgae grown for its photosynthetic pigment and
beta-carotene (orange dye as a food colorant and as a vitamin C supplement) are
Dunaliella. New findings suggest that beta-carotene acts as an anticarcinogenic
agent and is also effective in controlling cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart
disease. These properties make it a more valuable product, and it is expected to
increase people’s demand for it. Arthrospira sp. is another proteinaceous microalga,
commercialized for its excellent nutritional value and other possible healthpromoting properties (Spolaore et al. 2006). Chlorella minutissima is a marine
algae with a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and is useful
in preventing or treating several diseases (Priyadarshani and Rath 2012).
4.3.2 Microalgae in Cosmetics
Species of Ascophyllum, Alaria, Spirulina, Arthrospira, Nannochloropsis, Chlorella, and Dunaliella are species specifically utilized for cosmetics production as
thickening agents, water-binding agents, and antioxidants. Extracts from microalgae
are found in skin care products as antiaging cream, sun protection creams, refreshing
agents, emollients, anti-irritant in peelers, etc. (Spolaore et al. 2006).
4.3.3 Microalgae as Fertilizers
Microalgae serving as biofertilizers and soil conditioners in agriculture are widely
applied in India and Southeast Asia. Cyanobacteria play a vital role in maintaining
and building up of soil fertility, functioning as a natural biofertilizer through its
ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. A variety of free-living cyanobacteria have now
been identified as active components to benefit crop plants by producing various
growth-promoting substances such as vitamin B12 and auxins like indole-3-acetic
acid, indole-3-propionic acid, or 3-methylindole. Furthermore blue-green algae such
as Nostoc, Anabaena, Tolypothrix, and Aulosira can be employed as inoculants for
paddy crops to increase yield and improve the soil physicochemical properties
(Priyadarshani and Rath 2012).
324
J. Umamaheswari et al.