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Nutraceutical potential of microalgae: a case study from a tropical estuary in Southern India

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Abstract

This study delves into the nutraceutical potential of microalgae in brackishwater aquaculture, with a focus on a case study conducted in the Muttukadu estuary, Tamil Nadu, India. The research involved the collection, identification, culture standardization, nutrient profiling, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of seven microalgal species in the brackishwater ecosystem, including Thalassiosira weissflogii, Chaetoceros gracilis, Nannochloropsis oculata, Chlorella marina, Tetraselmis sp, Isochrysis galbana and Arthrospira maxima. The growth kinetics analysis highlighted N. oculata and C. marina with an extended log phase and significantly higher growth rates. Proximate analysis revealed the highest protein content (62.46 ± 3.45%) in A. maxima. I. galbana showed significantly higher lipid content (33.08 ± 2.18%), while T. weissflogii had 20.11 ± 1.02%. Fatty acid profiling identified the highest percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (69.51%) in A. maxima, followed by Tetraselmis sp (56.32%). Methanolic extracts from C. marina and T. weissflogii displayed notably higher total phenolic content. A. maxima exhibited the highest total antioxidant activity, and C-Phycocyanin (CPC) extracts showed the highest inhibition zones against pathogenic bacteria. This study underscored the diversity of commercially important microalgal species in the tropical estuarine brackishwater ecosystem. The nutrient composition analysis emphasized the abundance of essential macronutrients, micronutrients, vitamins, and bioactive compounds. These findings contribute to understanding microalgae's nutraceutical potential in brackishwater aquaculture, suggesting their suitability for large-scale cultivation and utilization in aquaculture and other food-producing industries. Moreover, the bioactive compounds present in these microalgae offer opportunities for developing novel nutraceutical formulations with potential health benefits.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the support given by the Director, ICAR-CIBA, Chennai for the conduct of the study. The authors are also grateful to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for the research funding.

Funding

This work was funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi and the Grant Number was FISHCIBASIL201800800136.

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Contributions

KP Sandeep and K Ambasankar conceptualized and executed the work; KP Sandeep and J Raymond Jani Angel executed isolation and characterization studies; T Sivaramakrishnan and J Syama Dayal helped in the nutrient profiling of isolates; NS Sudheer and Dani Thomas helped in the antimicrobial assay. KP Sandeep and J Raymond Jani Angel wrote and CP Balasubramanian, M Kailasam and K Ambasankar reviewed the manuscript. All authors agreed to the publication of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. P. Sandeep.

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As the present study does not deal with live animals, the ethical statement is not required.

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The authors declare there are no competing interests.

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Sandeep, K.P., Sivaramakrishnan, T., Raymond, J.A.J. et al. Nutraceutical potential of microalgae: a case study from a tropical estuary in Southern India. J Coast Conserv 28, 45 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-024-01046-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-024-01046-1

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