Microalgae under environmental stress as a source of antioxidants

By M. Gauthier, G. Senhorinho, J. A. Scott. 2020

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Abstract The demand for naturally sourced compounds is rapidly growing as synthetically produced counterparts can be toxic and unsuitable for human consumption. Antioxidant compounds produced by microalgae under stress conditions are, therefore, becoming of commercial interest as potential natural health products. Oxidative stress caused by acidity, metals, ultra-violet radiation, and nutrient limitations can induce production of antioxidants in many species of photosynthetic green microalgae and blue-green algae. This review discusses the mechanisms of stress and the corresponding antioxidant response. Each microalgal species responds differently to each stress, yielding an increase in enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, and/or an increase in non-enzymatic antioxidants such as carotenes, xanthophylls, and flavonoids. There is potential to exploit these stress responses for commercial cultivation and the production of specific antioxidant compounds.

Subfields: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/65756da3bd4d1aca558acd8ec67df854bb354912