Biotechnology research with microalgae includes analysis of natural compounds
for the development of alternative energy sources, health and functional foods,
health supplements, skin cosmetics, skin ointments, moisturizers, aromatic plant
activators, feed for marine farming, and pharmaceuticals. Additionally, there has
been a wide range of biotechnological research with photobioreactors and fermenter
culturing methods for the mass production of microalgae to produce specific pigments with high value-added, carbohydrates, amino acids, and unsaturated fats and
as materials for wastewater treatment, fertilizer, and energy. Because microalgae
have a relatively low cell density compared to other microbes, research and
development has been conducted in connection with environmental industries to
use waste resources (such as industrial waste and wastewater from livestock raising)
to ensure economic efficiency in the culturing process by increasing productivity
with reductions in the costs of mass culturing (Hong and Lee 2015).
7.6.2 Seeking Potential Bioactive Substances in Microalgae
Microalgae are photosynthesizing microbes that ① are easy to apply for industrial
purposes, ② contain relatively large amounts of functional bioactive substances, and
③ possess high value-added. Another characteristic is that mass production can be
achieved by optimizing value-added products through culturing conditions without
the need for genetic recombination technology (Michalak and Chojnacka 2015).
In the advanced economies, research and development is already under way on
health foods using microalgae such as Chlorella, Spirulina, Dunaliella, and Haematococcus, as well as microalgae-derived antioxidants such as lutein, astaxanthin,
and cantaxanthin. Clinical reports indicate superior antioxidant effects to vitamin E
(tocopherol) or beta carotene. Astaxanthin is a high value-added item that sells for
US$2500 per kg, with sales reaching the billions of dollars in the U.S. alone
(Fig. 7.12, photo 7.4).
The recent publication of research reporting various bioactive substances in microalgae has made them the focus of new attention. Among the substances reported
are antimicrobial agents, enzyme inhibitors, cytotoxins, anti-inflammatories, superoxide dismutase, activators, anticancer agents, and anti-HIV agents.
The author’s own laboratory has confirmed liver cell protection and liver fibrosis
suppression effects in peptides isolated from enzymatic hydrolysates of the diatom
Navicula incerta. The results of treatment of liver cells damaged by alcohol use
with the microalgae-derived peptides are shown in Fig. 7.9. While liver cells treated
with alcohol showed disruption to normal cell formation due to expression of
inflammation-inducing factors as a result of cell surface damage, liver cells were
found to be protected when treated with microalgae-derived peptides, due to suppression of alcohol-induced liver cell damage.
Peptides isolated from N. incerta enzymatic hydrolysates were also shown to be
effect in suppressing liver fibrosis. As seen in Fig. 7.9, examination of liver cell
222
7 Microalgae, a Biological Resource for the Future
for the development of alternative energy sources, health and functional foods,
health supplements, skin cosmetics, skin ointments, moisturizers, aromatic plant
activators, feed for marine farming, and pharmaceuticals. Additionally, there has
been a wide range of biotechnological research with photobioreactors and fermenter
culturing methods for the mass production of microalgae to produce specific pigments with high value-added, carbohydrates, amino acids, and unsaturated fats and
as materials for wastewater treatment, fertilizer, and energy. Because microalgae
have a relatively low cell density compared to other microbes, research and
development has been conducted in connection with environmental industries to
use waste resources (such as industrial waste and wastewater from livestock raising)
to ensure economic efficiency in the culturing process by increasing productivity
with reductions in the costs of mass culturing (Hong and Lee 2015).
7.6.2 Seeking Potential Bioactive Substances in Microalgae
Microalgae are photosynthesizing microbes that ① are easy to apply for industrial
purposes, ② contain relatively large amounts of functional bioactive substances, and
③ possess high value-added. Another characteristic is that mass production can be
achieved by optimizing value-added products through culturing conditions without
the need for genetic recombination technology (Michalak and Chojnacka 2015).
In the advanced economies, research and development is already under way on
health foods using microalgae such as Chlorella, Spirulina, Dunaliella, and Haematococcus, as well as microalgae-derived antioxidants such as lutein, astaxanthin,
and cantaxanthin. Clinical reports indicate superior antioxidant effects to vitamin E
(tocopherol) or beta carotene. Astaxanthin is a high value-added item that sells for
US$2500 per kg, with sales reaching the billions of dollars in the U.S. alone
(Fig. 7.12, photo 7.4).
The recent publication of research reporting various bioactive substances in microalgae has made them the focus of new attention. Among the substances reported
are antimicrobial agents, enzyme inhibitors, cytotoxins, anti-inflammatories, superoxide dismutase, activators, anticancer agents, and anti-HIV agents.
The author’s own laboratory has confirmed liver cell protection and liver fibrosis
suppression effects in peptides isolated from enzymatic hydrolysates of the diatom
Navicula incerta. The results of treatment of liver cells damaged by alcohol use
with the microalgae-derived peptides are shown in Fig. 7.9. While liver cells treated
with alcohol showed disruption to normal cell formation due to expression of
inflammation-inducing factors as a result of cell surface damage, liver cells were
found to be protected when treated with microalgae-derived peptides, due to suppression of alcohol-induced liver cell damage.
Peptides isolated from N. incerta enzymatic hydrolysates were also shown to be
effect in suppressing liver fibrosis. As seen in Fig. 7.9, examination of liver cell
222
7 Microalgae, a Biological Resource for the Future