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10 Aquatic Plants and Algae Proteins
microscopic green algae (Bacillariophyta, Cyanophyta, Chrysophyta and Chlorophyta, respectively). All of these algae are a diverse group with thousands of species.
This gives the possibility for a largely diverse range of proteins.
Their ability to grow in the aquatic environment means these aquatic organisms
have adapted some features which are distinct from terrestrial plants. Every different
feature means these plants and algae have different proteins which are different from
those of animals, since these proteins are important in developing these specific
features. The aquatic environment therefore serves as a promising source of new
proteins and peptides or at the very least a more productive source, considering the
higher biomass accumulation rate of aquatic plants and algae compared to those of
terrestrial plants.
Aquatic plants and algae continue to play an increasingly important role in the
livelihoods of individuals, they can serve as a source of food, means of livelihood and
their economic value can be significantly increased through exploring their protein
content. These proteins can be further processed into even higher value commodities
such as functional foods and bioactive agents in supplements and drugs. This chapter
explores some of the aquatic plants and algae, their protein components and existing
and potential commercial applications of these proteins. Within this chapter, aquatic
plants and algae proteins are reviewed as the total protein content in the biomass. Subsequent chapters will then explore specific proteins, namely enzymes and collagen
in separate chapters.
It should be noted that while some of these plants and algae could serve as a
source of beneficial proteins, their mismanagement or the mismanagement of the
aquatic environment within which they grow could lead to adverse commercial,
health and environmental impact. A particularly common one of such is the algae
bloom which results in release of toxins into the environment which are harmful
to human beings (Pulz and Gross 2004). This has become a serious environmental
concern with increasing frequency in aquatic habitats such as along the coast of the
Yellow Sea in the Jiangsu Province and Shandong Province in China (Zhang et al.
2019).
As the world population continues to increase so does the demand for food. Protein
forms a large part of the daily nutritional requirement, and much of these come from
terrestrial plants and animals. Aquatic source of protein is mainly fish and aquatic
animals. Algae and aquatic plants can provide an alternative or additional protein
source which do not require land for cultivation and grow at a much faster rate as
well as offer some additional health impacts.
10.2 Occurrence in Nature
Aquatic plants and algae contain considerable amounts of protein which make them
commercially relevant sources of protein. For example, the blue-green cyanobacteria Spirulina contain between 60 and 70% protein by dry weight of its biomass
(Yucetepe et al. 2018). Many aquatic organisms produce more than one biopolymer
10 Aquatic Plants and Algae Proteins
microscopic green algae (Bacillariophyta, Cyanophyta, Chrysophyta and Chlorophyta, respectively). All of these algae are a diverse group with thousands of species.
This gives the possibility for a largely diverse range of proteins.
Their ability to grow in the aquatic environment means these aquatic organisms
have adapted some features which are distinct from terrestrial plants. Every different
feature means these plants and algae have different proteins which are different from
those of animals, since these proteins are important in developing these specific
features. The aquatic environment therefore serves as a promising source of new
proteins and peptides or at the very least a more productive source, considering the
higher biomass accumulation rate of aquatic plants and algae compared to those of
terrestrial plants.
Aquatic plants and algae continue to play an increasingly important role in the
livelihoods of individuals, they can serve as a source of food, means of livelihood and
their economic value can be significantly increased through exploring their protein
content. These proteins can be further processed into even higher value commodities
such as functional foods and bioactive agents in supplements and drugs. This chapter
explores some of the aquatic plants and algae, their protein components and existing
and potential commercial applications of these proteins. Within this chapter, aquatic
plants and algae proteins are reviewed as the total protein content in the biomass. Subsequent chapters will then explore specific proteins, namely enzymes and collagen
in separate chapters.
It should be noted that while some of these plants and algae could serve as a
source of beneficial proteins, their mismanagement or the mismanagement of the
aquatic environment within which they grow could lead to adverse commercial,
health and environmental impact. A particularly common one of such is the algae
bloom which results in release of toxins into the environment which are harmful
to human beings (Pulz and Gross 2004). This has become a serious environmental
concern with increasing frequency in aquatic habitats such as along the coast of the
Yellow Sea in the Jiangsu Province and Shandong Province in China (Zhang et al.
2019).
As the world population continues to increase so does the demand for food. Protein
forms a large part of the daily nutritional requirement, and much of these come from
terrestrial plants and animals. Aquatic source of protein is mainly fish and aquatic
animals. Algae and aquatic plants can provide an alternative or additional protein
source which do not require land for cultivation and grow at a much faster rate as
well as offer some additional health impacts.
10.2 Occurrence in Nature
Aquatic plants and algae contain considerable amounts of protein which make them
commercially relevant sources of protein. For example, the blue-green cyanobacteria Spirulina contain between 60 and 70% protein by dry weight of its biomass
(Yucetepe et al. 2018). Many aquatic organisms produce more than one biopolymer