MARINE MICROALGAE AS SOURCES OF PHOSPHOLIPIDS AND STEROLS FOR USE AS NUTRACEUTICALS AND ENCAPSULATION SYSTEMS

Addition of nutraceuticals to food products shows promise
as diet-based prevention for many chronic diseases. Nutraceuticals
are often hydrophobic and not easily incorporated
into food products. Phospholipids from microalgae are ideal
for the production of liposomes, allowing incorporation
of the hydrophobic compound of interest, and potentially
providing omega-3. Phospholipids have the ability to increase
adsorption of DHA in infants, and reduce cholesterol
and hepatic fibrosis in mammalian models. Three species
were studied, (Cylindrotheca fusiformis CCAP 1017/2, Nannochloropsis
oceanica CCAP 849/10 and Isochrysis galbana
CCAP 927/1). Lipid and pigments were extracted from
samples taken throughout the growth phase. Percentage
total lipid extract was determined and lipid classes were
analysed by HPTLC and scanning densitometry. C. fusiformis
phospholipids varied over the growth of the culture
(3.11-14.51% of TL). N. oceanica had an overall high proportion
of phospholipids, highest at day 5 (21.37% of total
lipid), corresponding to the beginning of logarithmic
growth, with the proportion of phospholipids remaining
high throughout. Detectable phospholipid in I. galbana
was only present at days 10 and 13, (1.03-2.79% of TL).
Photoautotrophic microalgae, produced without carbon
substrates and grown on non-arable land or using water
sources unsuitable for terrestrial plants, confer advantages
over terrestrial plants and bacteria. Microalgae have potential
as future sources of complex polar lipids and phytosterols
and for use as additives or delivery systems for high
value nutraceutical products.