Unravelling the Potential of Seven Microalgae Species: Nutritional, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Properties and Application
Microalgae are a rich renewable source of a wide variety of bioactive compounds. This study focuses on seven microalgae—<i>Limnospira</i> sp., <i>Dunaliella</i> sp., <i>Lobosphaera</i> sp., <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp., <i>Odontella</i> sp.,...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| author | Valter F. R. Martins Ana I. Lopes Diana Gomes Celina Parreira Sara M. Badenes Luís Costa Manuela Pintado Alcina M. M. B. Morais Rui M. S. C. Morais |
| author_facet | Valter F. R. Martins Ana I. Lopes Diana Gomes Celina Parreira Sara M. Badenes Luís Costa Manuela Pintado Alcina M. M. B. Morais Rui M. S. C. Morais |
| author_sort | Valter F. R. Martins |
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| description | Microalgae are a rich renewable source of a wide variety of bioactive compounds. This study focuses on seven microalgae—<i>Limnospira</i> sp., <i>Dunaliella</i> sp., <i>Lobosphaera</i> sp., <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp., <i>Odontella</i> sp., <i>Porphyridium</i> sp., and <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp.— analyzing their nutritional compositions and the potential bioactivity of their hydroethanolic extracts obtained via ultrasound-assisted extraction. The total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (ABTS, DPPH, and ORAC), as well as the antimicrobial activity of the extracts were determined. The protein content of the microalgae ranged from 22.9 ± 0.1 to 59.8 ± 1.6%, the fat content ranged from 5.3 ± 0.0 to 36.6 ± 0.0%, and the carbohydrates ranged from 24.0 ± 3.0 to 46.1 ± 1.0%. The highest contents of protein, fat, and carbohydrates were found in <i>Limnospira</i> sp., <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp., and <i>Lobosphaera</i> sp., respectively. The TPC of the extracts varied between 0.53 ± 0.09 and 3.18 ± 0.53 mg GAE/100 mg DW. Antioxidant activity values ranged from 1.09 ± 0.15 and 2.85 ± 0.45 μmol TE/100 mg DW for ABTS, 0.25 ± 0.06 and 2.28 ± 0.06 μmol TE/100 mg DW for DPPH, and 2.37 ± 0.58 and 18.32 ± 1.00 μmol TE/100 mg DW for ORAC. The extract from <i>Limnospira</i> sp. exhibited the highest antioxidant activity and also showed notable antimicrobial effects. Meanwhile, the <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp. extract demonstrated the strongest antimicrobial activity against most tested bacterial strains. Lipids were successfully extracted from <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp. Furthermore, alginate and zein films incorporated with bioactive-rich extracts from <i>Limnospira</i> sp. and <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp., along with the lipid-rich extract from <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp., were developed. These films showed significant antioxidant activity and effective antimicrobial activity against <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-05e0f8e82e444ee292f5d4e5b5eb12c2 |
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| issn | 2076-3417 |
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| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-05e0f8e82e444ee292f5d4e5b5eb12c22025-08-20T02:24:35ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-06-011512669110.3390/app15126691Unravelling the Potential of Seven Microalgae Species: Nutritional, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Properties and ApplicationValter F. R. Martins0Ana I. Lopes1Diana Gomes2Celina Parreira3Sara M. Badenes4Luís Costa5Manuela Pintado6Alcina M. M. B. Morais7Rui M. S. C. Morais8CBQF—Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina—Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, PortugalCBQF—Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina—Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, PortugalA4F—Algae for Future, Campus do Lumiar, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, Edif. E, R/C, 1649-038 Lisboa, PortugalA4F—Algae for Future, Campus do Lumiar, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, Edif. E, R/C, 1649-038 Lisboa, PortugalA4F—Algae for Future, Campus do Lumiar, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, Edif. E, R/C, 1649-038 Lisboa, PortugalA4F—Algae for Future, Campus do Lumiar, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, Edif. E, R/C, 1649-038 Lisboa, PortugalCBQF—Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina—Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, PortugalCBQF—Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina—Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, PortugalCBQF—Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina—Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, PortugalMicroalgae are a rich renewable source of a wide variety of bioactive compounds. This study focuses on seven microalgae—<i>Limnospira</i> sp., <i>Dunaliella</i> sp., <i>Lobosphaera</i> sp., <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp., <i>Odontella</i> sp., <i>Porphyridium</i> sp., and <i>Tetraselmis</i> sp.— analyzing their nutritional compositions and the potential bioactivity of their hydroethanolic extracts obtained via ultrasound-assisted extraction. The total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (ABTS, DPPH, and ORAC), as well as the antimicrobial activity of the extracts were determined. The protein content of the microalgae ranged from 22.9 ± 0.1 to 59.8 ± 1.6%, the fat content ranged from 5.3 ± 0.0 to 36.6 ± 0.0%, and the carbohydrates ranged from 24.0 ± 3.0 to 46.1 ± 1.0%. The highest contents of protein, fat, and carbohydrates were found in <i>Limnospira</i> sp., <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp., and <i>Lobosphaera</i> sp., respectively. The TPC of the extracts varied between 0.53 ± 0.09 and 3.18 ± 0.53 mg GAE/100 mg DW. Antioxidant activity values ranged from 1.09 ± 0.15 and 2.85 ± 0.45 μmol TE/100 mg DW for ABTS, 0.25 ± 0.06 and 2.28 ± 0.06 μmol TE/100 mg DW for DPPH, and 2.37 ± 0.58 and 18.32 ± 1.00 μmol TE/100 mg DW for ORAC. The extract from <i>Limnospira</i> sp. exhibited the highest antioxidant activity and also showed notable antimicrobial effects. Meanwhile, the <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp. extract demonstrated the strongest antimicrobial activity against most tested bacterial strains. Lipids were successfully extracted from <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp. Furthermore, alginate and zein films incorporated with bioactive-rich extracts from <i>Limnospira</i> sp. and <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp., along with the lipid-rich extract from <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp., were developed. These films showed significant antioxidant activity and effective antimicrobial activity against <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6691microalgae<i>Limnospira</i><i>Arthrospira</i><i>Dunaliella</i><i>Lobosphaera</i><i>Nannochloropsis</i> |
| spellingShingle | Valter F. R. Martins Ana I. Lopes Diana Gomes Celina Parreira Sara M. Badenes Luís Costa Manuela Pintado Alcina M. M. B. Morais Rui M. S. C. Morais Unravelling the Potential of Seven Microalgae Species: Nutritional, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Properties and Application Applied Sciences microalgae <i>Limnospira</i> <i>Arthrospira</i> <i>Dunaliella</i> <i>Lobosphaera</i> <i>Nannochloropsis</i> |
| title | Unravelling the Potential of Seven Microalgae Species: Nutritional, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Properties and Application |
| title_full | Unravelling the Potential of Seven Microalgae Species: Nutritional, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Properties and Application |
| title_fullStr | Unravelling the Potential of Seven Microalgae Species: Nutritional, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Properties and Application |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unravelling the Potential of Seven Microalgae Species: Nutritional, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Properties and Application |
| title_short | Unravelling the Potential of Seven Microalgae Species: Nutritional, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Properties and Application |
| title_sort | unravelling the potential of seven microalgae species nutritional antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and application |
| topic | microalgae <i>Limnospira</i> <i>Arthrospira</i> <i>Dunaliella</i> <i>Lobosphaera</i> <i>Nannochloropsis</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6691 |
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