Algae and Plants
9
Order: Chlorellales
Family: Chlorellaceae
Common name: Chlorella.
Distribution: Worldwide; Europe, Asia,
Australia and New Zealand (AlgaeBase).
Habitat: Freshwater bodies.
Description: This species is small, unicellular, and nonmotile, about 2–15 μm
in diameter. Cells are spherical or ellipsoidal with a single, parietal, cup-shaped
(sometimes plate-like) chloroplast with
or without a pyrenoid. Cell wall is generally thin and smooth. Cells contain
green photosynthetic pigments,  viz.,
chlorophyll a  and  b  in the chloroplast.
Over 24 vitamins and minerals (plus
vital trace elements) and 19 amino acids
(including all 8 essential ones) are available in this species. Further, highly
digestible, complete protein and essential fatty acids—omega-3, omega-6, and
gamma-linolenic acid (GLA)—are also
present. Hence, this species is considered a popular food supplement (van
Vuuren et al., 2006).
Nutritional Facts
Proximate Composition (% DM)
Protein
CHO a
Lipids
57
26
2
a Carbohydrate.
Source: Data from Becker (1994).
Amino Acids (g/16gN)
Isoleucine
3.4
Leucine
4.0
Valine
5.1
Lysine
7.9
Phenylalanine
4.5
Tyrosine
2.7
Methionine
1.8
Cysteine
0
Tryptophan
1.4
Threonine
3.2
Alanine
5.9
Arginine
5.6
Aspartic acid
5.9
Glutamic acid
9.3
Glycine
4.8
Histidine
1.4
Proline
4.0
Serine
2.2
Source: Data from Becker (1994).
Chlorella ellipsoidea Gernceck 1907
Order: Chlorellales
Family: Chlorellaceae
Common name: Chlorella.
Distribution: Europe, Southwest Asia,
Caribbean islands, Australia and New
Zealand (AlgaeBase).