Exploiting microalgal diversity for sterol production
Sterols are essential for eukaryotic cell membrane integrity and fluidity, and they demonstrate valuable pharmaceutical and nutraceutical benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, and cholesterol-lowering properties. Traditionally, animal, plant, and microbial fermentation ste...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1616863/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850111147388174336 |
|---|---|
| author | Omnia H. Abdelkarim Omnia H. Abdelkarim Rene H. Wijffels Rene H. Wijffels Maria J. Barbosa |
| author_facet | Omnia H. Abdelkarim Omnia H. Abdelkarim Rene H. Wijffels Rene H. Wijffels Maria J. Barbosa |
| author_sort | Omnia H. Abdelkarim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sterols are essential for eukaryotic cell membrane integrity and fluidity, and they demonstrate valuable pharmaceutical and nutraceutical benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, and cholesterol-lowering properties. Traditionally, animal, plant, and microbial fermentation sterols face sustainability, economic, and ethical challenges. Microalgae have emerged as a promising alternative due to their biochemical diversity, rapid growth, and controlled cultivation capabilities. This review explores microalgae’s potential for sterol production, highlighting their advantages, including sustainability and sterol profile diversity, while addressing key challenges of low sterol yields, species-dependent variations, and industrial scalability. We discuss how recent advancements in metabolic engineering, cultivation technologies, and process optimization could enhance sterol production. By integrating innovative biotechnological strategies, microalgae hold the potential to become a viable and sustainable sterol source for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and industrial applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1cbd06c3072c420192df75eb20a64ef4 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-1cbd06c3072c420192df75eb20a64ef42025-08-20T02:37:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-06-011610.3389/fpls.2025.16168631616863Exploiting microalgal diversity for sterol productionOmnia H. Abdelkarim0Omnia H. Abdelkarim1Rene H. Wijffels2Rene H. Wijffels3Maria J. Barbosa4Bioprocess Engineering, AlgaePARC, Wageningen University, Wageningen, NetherlandsDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, EgyptBioprocess Engineering, AlgaePARC, Wageningen University, Wageningen, NetherlandsFaculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Bodø, NorwayBioprocess Engineering, AlgaePARC, Wageningen University, Wageningen, NetherlandsSterols are essential for eukaryotic cell membrane integrity and fluidity, and they demonstrate valuable pharmaceutical and nutraceutical benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, and cholesterol-lowering properties. Traditionally, animal, plant, and microbial fermentation sterols face sustainability, economic, and ethical challenges. Microalgae have emerged as a promising alternative due to their biochemical diversity, rapid growth, and controlled cultivation capabilities. This review explores microalgae’s potential for sterol production, highlighting their advantages, including sustainability and sterol profile diversity, while addressing key challenges of low sterol yields, species-dependent variations, and industrial scalability. We discuss how recent advancements in metabolic engineering, cultivation technologies, and process optimization could enhance sterol production. By integrating innovative biotechnological strategies, microalgae hold the potential to become a viable and sustainable sterol source for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and industrial applications.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1616863/fullmicroalgaesterols productionenvironmental conditionsgenetic engineeringbiotechnological application |
| spellingShingle | Omnia H. Abdelkarim Omnia H. Abdelkarim Rene H. Wijffels Rene H. Wijffels Maria J. Barbosa Exploiting microalgal diversity for sterol production Frontiers in Plant Science microalgae sterols production environmental conditions genetic engineering biotechnological application |
| title | Exploiting microalgal diversity for sterol production |
| title_full | Exploiting microalgal diversity for sterol production |
| title_fullStr | Exploiting microalgal diversity for sterol production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploiting microalgal diversity for sterol production |
| title_short | Exploiting microalgal diversity for sterol production |
| title_sort | exploiting microalgal diversity for sterol production |
| topic | microalgae sterols production environmental conditions genetic engineering biotechnological application |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1616863/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT omniahabdelkarim exploitingmicroalgaldiversityforsterolproduction AT omniahabdelkarim exploitingmicroalgaldiversityforsterolproduction AT renehwijffels exploitingmicroalgaldiversityforsterolproduction AT renehwijffels exploitingmicroalgaldiversityforsterolproduction AT mariajbarbosa exploitingmicroalgaldiversityforsterolproduction |