Photoautotrophic Batch Cultivation of <i>Limnospira</i> (Spirulina) <i>platensis</i>: Optimizing Biomass Productivity and Bioactive Compound Synthesis Through Salinity and pH Modulation
This study investigates the effects of salinity and pH modulation on the growth, biochemical composition, and bioactive compound production of <i>Limnospira platensis</i> under photoautotrophic batch cultivation. Cultures were grown in cylindrical photobioreactors using modified Jourdan...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Marine Drugs |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/7/281 |
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| author | Matteo Rizzoli Giovanni Antonio Lutzu Luca Usai Giacomo Fais Debora Dessì Robinson Soto-Ramirez Bartolomeo Cosenza Alessandro Concas |
| author_facet | Matteo Rizzoli Giovanni Antonio Lutzu Luca Usai Giacomo Fais Debora Dessì Robinson Soto-Ramirez Bartolomeo Cosenza Alessandro Concas |
| author_sort | Matteo Rizzoli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates the effects of salinity and pH modulation on the growth, biochemical composition, and bioactive compound production of <i>Limnospira platensis</i> under photoautotrophic batch cultivation. Cultures were grown in cylindrical photobioreactors using modified Jourdan medium, with controlled variations in NaCl concentrations (0.2–10 g L<sup>−1</sup>) and pH levels (9–11) to simulate moderate environmental stress. Maximum biomass productivity (1.596 g L<sup>−1</sup>) was achieved at pH 11 with 10 g L<sup>−1</sup> NaCl, indicating that <i>L. platensis</i> can tolerate elevated stress conditions. Phycocyanin (PC) content peaked at 9.54 g 100 g<sup>−1</sup> dry weight (DW) at pH 10 and 5 g L<sup>−1</sup> NaCl, triple the value at pH 9, highlighting optimal physiological conditions for pigment synthesis. Protein fraction dominated biomass composition (40–60%), while total lipid content increased significantly under high pH and salinity. Polyphenol content reached 19.5 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) gDW<sup>−1</sup> at pH 10 with 0.2 g L<sup>−1</sup> NaCl, correlating with the highest antioxidant activity (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity). These findings underscore the potential of <i>L. platensis</i> as a valuable source of proteins, pigments, and antioxidants, and emphasize the utility of moderate environmental stress in enhancing biomass quality, defined by protein, pigment, and antioxidant enrichment. While this study focused on physiological responses, future research will apply omics approaches to elucidate stress-response mechanisms. This study provides insights into optimizing cultivation strategies for large-scale production exploitable in food, pharmaceutical, and bio-based industries. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-114e7f7583cf4cde9b689a2a5ed3079e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1660-3397 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Marine Drugs |
| spelling | doaj-art-114e7f7583cf4cde9b689a2a5ed3079e2025-08-20T03:08:12ZengMDPI AGMarine Drugs1660-33972025-07-0123728110.3390/md23070281Photoautotrophic Batch Cultivation of <i>Limnospira</i> (Spirulina) <i>platensis</i>: Optimizing Biomass Productivity and Bioactive Compound Synthesis Through Salinity and pH ModulationMatteo Rizzoli0Giovanni Antonio Lutzu1Luca Usai2Giacomo Fais3Debora Dessì4Robinson Soto-Ramirez5Bartolomeo Cosenza6Alessandro Concas7Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Giuseppe Campi 287, 41123 Modena, MO, ItalyTeregroup Srl, Via David Livingstone 37, 41123 Modena, MO, ItalyTeregroup Srl, Via David Livingstone 37, 41123 Modena, MO, ItalyDepartment of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Piazza d’Armi, 09123 Cagliari, CA, ItalyDepartment of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Blocco A, SP8 Km 0.700, 09042 Monserrato, CA, ItalyEscuela de Ingenieria Bioquimica, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaiso, Avenue Brasil 2085, 72874-220 Valparaíso, ChileDepartment of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 56122 Pisa, PI, ItalyDepartment of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Piazza d’Armi, 09123 Cagliari, CA, ItalyThis study investigates the effects of salinity and pH modulation on the growth, biochemical composition, and bioactive compound production of <i>Limnospira platensis</i> under photoautotrophic batch cultivation. Cultures were grown in cylindrical photobioreactors using modified Jourdan medium, with controlled variations in NaCl concentrations (0.2–10 g L<sup>−1</sup>) and pH levels (9–11) to simulate moderate environmental stress. Maximum biomass productivity (1.596 g L<sup>−1</sup>) was achieved at pH 11 with 10 g L<sup>−1</sup> NaCl, indicating that <i>L. platensis</i> can tolerate elevated stress conditions. Phycocyanin (PC) content peaked at 9.54 g 100 g<sup>−1</sup> dry weight (DW) at pH 10 and 5 g L<sup>−1</sup> NaCl, triple the value at pH 9, highlighting optimal physiological conditions for pigment synthesis. Protein fraction dominated biomass composition (40–60%), while total lipid content increased significantly under high pH and salinity. Polyphenol content reached 19.5 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) gDW<sup>−1</sup> at pH 10 with 0.2 g L<sup>−1</sup> NaCl, correlating with the highest antioxidant activity (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity). These findings underscore the potential of <i>L. platensis</i> as a valuable source of proteins, pigments, and antioxidants, and emphasize the utility of moderate environmental stress in enhancing biomass quality, defined by protein, pigment, and antioxidant enrichment. While this study focused on physiological responses, future research will apply omics approaches to elucidate stress-response mechanisms. This study provides insights into optimizing cultivation strategies for large-scale production exploitable in food, pharmaceutical, and bio-based industries.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/7/281<i>Limnospira platensis</i>salinityalkalinityphycocianinpolyphenolsantioxidant activity |
| spellingShingle | Matteo Rizzoli Giovanni Antonio Lutzu Luca Usai Giacomo Fais Debora Dessì Robinson Soto-Ramirez Bartolomeo Cosenza Alessandro Concas Photoautotrophic Batch Cultivation of <i>Limnospira</i> (Spirulina) <i>platensis</i>: Optimizing Biomass Productivity and Bioactive Compound Synthesis Through Salinity and pH Modulation Marine Drugs <i>Limnospira platensis</i> salinity alkalinity phycocianin polyphenols antioxidant activity |
| title | Photoautotrophic Batch Cultivation of <i>Limnospira</i> (Spirulina) <i>platensis</i>: Optimizing Biomass Productivity and Bioactive Compound Synthesis Through Salinity and pH Modulation |
| title_full | Photoautotrophic Batch Cultivation of <i>Limnospira</i> (Spirulina) <i>platensis</i>: Optimizing Biomass Productivity and Bioactive Compound Synthesis Through Salinity and pH Modulation |
| title_fullStr | Photoautotrophic Batch Cultivation of <i>Limnospira</i> (Spirulina) <i>platensis</i>: Optimizing Biomass Productivity and Bioactive Compound Synthesis Through Salinity and pH Modulation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Photoautotrophic Batch Cultivation of <i>Limnospira</i> (Spirulina) <i>platensis</i>: Optimizing Biomass Productivity and Bioactive Compound Synthesis Through Salinity and pH Modulation |
| title_short | Photoautotrophic Batch Cultivation of <i>Limnospira</i> (Spirulina) <i>platensis</i>: Optimizing Biomass Productivity and Bioactive Compound Synthesis Through Salinity and pH Modulation |
| title_sort | photoautotrophic batch cultivation of i limnospira i spirulina i platensis i optimizing biomass productivity and bioactive compound synthesis through salinity and ph modulation |
| topic | <i>Limnospira platensis</i> salinity alkalinity phycocianin polyphenols antioxidant activity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/7/281 |
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