Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 4, 80126, Naples, Italy.
Laboratory of Foodomics, Institute of Food Science Research, CIAL, CSIC, Nicolás Cabrera 9, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2024 Jun 24;108(1):390. doi: 10.1007/s00253-024-13229-9.
Microalgae are gaining attention as they are considered green fabrics able to synthesize many bioactive metabolites, with unique biological activities. However, their use at an industrial scale is still a challenge because of the high costs related to upstream and downstream processes. Here, a biorefinery approach was proposed, starting from the biomass of the green microalga Pseudococcomyxa simplex for the extraction of two classes of molecules with a potential use in the cosmetic industry. Carotenoids were extracted first by an ultrasound-assisted extraction, and then, from the residual biomass, lipids were obtained by a conventional extraction. The chemical characterization of the ethanol extract indicated lutein, a biosynthetic derivative of α-carotene, as the most abundant carotenoid. The extract was found to be fully biocompatible on a cell-based model, active as antioxidant and with an in vitro anti-aging property. In particular, the lutein-enriched fraction was able to activate Nrf2 pathway, which plays a key role also in aging process. Finally, lipids were isolated from the residual biomass and the isolated fatty acids fraction was composed by palmitic and stearic acids. These molecules, fully biocompatible, can find application as emulsifiers and softener agents in cosmetic formulations. Thus, an untapped microalgal species can represent a sustainable source for cosmeceutical formulations. KEY POINTS: • Pseudococcomyxa simplex has been explored in a cascade approach. • Lutein is the main extracted carotenoid and has antioxidant and anti-aging activity. • Fatty acids are mainly composed of palmitic and stearic acids.
微藻作为能够合成许多具有独特生物活性的生物活性代谢物的绿色织物而受到关注。然而，由于与上下游工艺相关的高成本，它们在工业规模上的应用仍然是一个挑战。在这里，提出了一种生物炼制方法，从绿色微藻假鱼腥藻的生物质开始，提取两类具有在化妆品工业中应用潜力的分子。首先通过超声辅助提取法提取类胡萝卜素，然后从剩余的生物质中通过常规提取法获得脂质。乙醇提取物的化学特性表明叶黄素是α-胡萝卜素的生物合成衍生物，是最丰富的类胡萝卜素。基于细胞的模型表明该提取物具有完全的生物相容性，具有抗氧化活性和体外抗衰老特性。特别是富含叶黄素的部分能够激活 Nrf2 通路，该通路在衰老过程中也起着关键作用。最后，从剩余的生物质中分离出脂质，并从分离出的脂肪酸部分得到棕榈酸和硬脂酸。这些完全生物相容的分子可以在化妆品配方中用作乳化剂和柔软剂。因此，未开发的微藻物种可以成为化妆品制剂的可持续来源。要点： • 已探索了假鱼腥藻的级联方法。 • 叶黄素是主要提取的类胡萝卜素，具有抗氧化和抗衰老活性。 • 脂肪酸主要由棕榈酸和硬脂酸组成。
