Hindawi Publishing Corporation
BioMed Research International
Volume 2015, Article ID 835761, 15 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/835761
Review Article
Biologically Active Metabolites Synthesized by Microalgae
Michele Greque de Morais,1 Bruna da Silva Vaz,1
Etiele Greque de Morais,2 and Jorge Alberto Vieira Costa2
1
Laboratory of Microbiology and Biochemistry, College of Chemistry and Food Engineering,
Federal University of Rio Grande, P.O. Box 474, 96203-900 Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
2
Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Food Engineering,
Federal University of Rio Grande, P.O. Box 474, 96203-900 Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
Correspondence should be addressed to Michele Greque de Morais;
Received 19 September 2014; Revised 26 December 2014; Accepted 11 January 2015
Academic Editor: Olga Genilloud
Copyright © 2015 Michele Greque de Morais et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons
Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is
properly cited.
Microalgae are microorganisms that have different morphological, physiological, and genetic traits that confer the ability to produce
different biologically active metabolites. Microalgal biotechnology has become a subject of study for various fields, due to the
varied bioproducts that can be obtained from these microorganisms. When microalgal cultivation processes are better understood,
microalgae can become an environmentally friendly and economically viable source of compounds of interest, because production
can be optimized in a controlled culture. The bioactive compounds derived from microalgae have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial,
and antioxidant activities, among others. Furthermore, these microorganisms have the ability to promote health and reduce the risk
of the development of degenerative diseases. In this context, the aim of this review is to discuss bioactive metabolites produced by
microalgae for possible applications in the life sciences.
1. Introduction absence of certain nutrients, stimulates the biosynthesis of
specific compounds.
Microalgae are unicellular microorganisms that grow in fresh Several studies have been conducted to investigate the
or salt water and have varied shapes with a diameter or length products of microalgal metabolism not only to understand its
of approximately 3–10 𝜇m. The term microalgae includes nature but also to search for substances with possible appli-
prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms [1]. Cyanobacteria and cations to humans in different fields of interest. Screening of
bacteria have very similar structural characteristics; however, extracts or isolation of metabolites from different microalgae
they are classified as microalgae because they contain chloro- is a common method for determining the biological activity
phyll 𝑎 and compounds related to photosynthesis. The so- of these components. Microalgae have been described as rich
called green algae are so named because of the presence of sources of various biocompounds of commercial interest [4].
chlorophyll 𝑎 and chlorophyll 𝑏 in the same proportions as in Bioactive compounds of microalgal origin can be sourced
higher plants [2]. directly from primary metabolism, such as proteins, fatty
Microalgae are photosynthetic organisms that play a key acids, vitamins, and pigments, or can be synthesized from
role in aquatic ecosystems. Approximately 40% of global pho- secondary metabolism. Such compounds can present
tosynthesis is due to these microorganisms [3]. Microalgal antifungal, antiviral, antialgal, antienzymatic, or antibiotic
metabolism reacts to changes in the external environment actions [5]. Many of these compounds (cyanovirin, oleic acid,
with changes in its intracellular environment. Thus, the linolenic acid, palmitoleic acid, vitamin E, B12, 𝛽-carotene,
manipulation of the culture conditions, or the presence or phycocyanin, lutein, and zeaxanthin) have antimicrobial
, 2738, 2015, 1, Downloaded from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2015/835761, Wiley Online Library on [22/04/2025]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
2 BioMed Research International
Table 1: Principal bioactive compounds extracted from microalgae.
Microalgae Bioactive compounds Reference
Spirulina sp. Polysaccharides [133]
Phycocyanin, C-phycocyanin, Phenolic acids, tocopherols
Spirulina platensis (vitamin E), neophytadiene, phytol, PUFAs (n-3) fatty [7, 39, 81]
acids, oleic acid, linolenic acid, palmitoleic acid
Spirulina fusiformis Diacylglycerols [81]
Astaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, lutein,
Haematococcus pluvialis [8, 39, 81]
𝛽-carotene, oleic acid
Carotenoids, sulfated polysaccharides, sterols, PUFAs
Chlorella sp. [7]
(n-3) fatty acids
Chlorella vulgaris Canthaxanthin, astaxanthin, peptide, oleic acid [13, 39, 133]
Chlorella minutissima Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) [81]
Chlorella ellipsoidea Zeaxanthin, violaxanthin [133]
trans-Betacarotene, cis-betacarotene, 𝛽-carotene, oleic
Dunaliella salina [12, 39, 81]
acid, linolenic acid, palmitic acid
Dunaliella Diacylglycerols [81]
Botryococcus braunii Linear alkadienes (C25, C27, C29, and C31), triene (C29) [12]
Chlorella zofingiensis Astaxanthin [8]
Chlorella protothecoides Lutein, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin [8, 102]
Chlorella pyrenoidosa Lutein, sulfated polysaccharide [39]
Nostoc linckia and Nostoc spongiaeforme Borophycin [81]
Nostoc sp. Cryptophycin [81]
antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory capacities, with the biocompounds used in food, medicine, cosmetics, and phar-
potential for the reduction and prevention of diseases [6–9]. maceuticals and even in the energy industry [10].
In most microalgae, the bioactive compounds are accu- Microalgae are a natural source of highly interesting bio-
mulated in the biomass; however, in some cases, these logically active compounds. These compounds have received
metabolites are excreted into the medium; these are known much attention from researchers and companies in recent
as exometabolites. years due to their potential applications in different life
Bioactive metabolites of microalgal origin are of special science fields. The applications range from the production
interest in the development of new products for medi- of biomass for food and feed to the production of bioactive
cal, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Further compounds for the medical and pharmaceutical industries
research should be conducted with these bioactive com- [9]. Considering the enormous biodiversity of microalgae
pounds to verify their beneficial effects for humans, their and recent developments in genetic engineering, this group
degradability when released into the environment, and their of microorganisms is one of the most promising sources for
effects when used in animals [4]. In this context, the aim of new products and applications [7].
this review is to discuss bioactive metabolites produced by Microalgae are autotrophic microorganisms that use light
microalgae for possible applications in the life sciences. energy and inorganic nutrients (carbon dioxide, nitrogen,
phosphorus, etc.) to develop and synthesize biocompounds
that have high aggregated nutritional value and therapeutic
2. Microalgae with Potential for Obtaining functions, such as lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, pigments,
Bioactive Compounds and polymers. Recent studies have reported that microalgae
can produce different chemical compounds with different
Microalgae are a group of heterogeneous microorganisms biological activities, such as carotenoids, phycobilins, polyun-
that have a great biodiversity of colors, shapes, and cell saturated fatty acids, proteins, polysaccharides, vitamins, and
characteristics, and their manipulation is encompassed by sterols among other chemicals [8, 11, 12].
the field of marine biotechnology. Among the thousands of Components of microalgal origin with antimicrobial,
species of microalgae believed to exist, only a small number antiviral, anticoagulant antienzymatic, antioxidant, antifun-
of them are retained in collections around the world, and gal, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activity, among oth-
it is estimated that only a few hundreds are investigated for ers, were identified [13–18]. The study of the extraction
compounds present in their biomass. Of these, only and a of bioactive compounds from various microalgae, such as
few are industrially cultivated [9]. This untapped diversity Arthrospira (Spirulina), Botryococcus braunii, Chlorella vul-
results in potential applications for these microorganisms in garis, Dunaliella salina, Haematococcus pluvialis, and Nostoc
several biotechnological fields, such as the production of (Table 1), has been investigated [12, 19, 20].
BioMed Research International
Volume 2015, Article ID 835761, 15 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/835761
Review Article
Biologically Active Metabolites Synthesized by Microalgae
Michele Greque de Morais,1 Bruna da Silva Vaz,1
Etiele Greque de Morais,2 and Jorge Alberto Vieira Costa2
1
Laboratory of Microbiology and Biochemistry, College of Chemistry and Food Engineering,
Federal University of Rio Grande, P.O. Box 474, 96203-900 Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
2
Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Food Engineering,
Federal University of Rio Grande, P.O. Box 474, 96203-900 Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
Correspondence should be addressed to Michele Greque de Morais;
Received 19 September 2014; Revised 26 December 2014; Accepted 11 January 2015
Academic Editor: Olga Genilloud
Copyright © 2015 Michele Greque de Morais et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons
Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is
properly cited.
Microalgae are microorganisms that have different morphological, physiological, and genetic traits that confer the ability to produce
different biologically active metabolites. Microalgal biotechnology has become a subject of study for various fields, due to the
varied bioproducts that can be obtained from these microorganisms. When microalgal cultivation processes are better understood,
microalgae can become an environmentally friendly and economically viable source of compounds of interest, because production
can be optimized in a controlled culture. The bioactive compounds derived from microalgae have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial,
and antioxidant activities, among others. Furthermore, these microorganisms have the ability to promote health and reduce the risk
of the development of degenerative diseases. In this context, the aim of this review is to discuss bioactive metabolites produced by
microalgae for possible applications in the life sciences.
1. Introduction absence of certain nutrients, stimulates the biosynthesis of
specific compounds.
Microalgae are unicellular microorganisms that grow in fresh Several studies have been conducted to investigate the
or salt water and have varied shapes with a diameter or length products of microalgal metabolism not only to understand its
of approximately 3–10 𝜇m. The term microalgae includes nature but also to search for substances with possible appli-
prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms [1]. Cyanobacteria and cations to humans in different fields of interest. Screening of
bacteria have very similar structural characteristics; however, extracts or isolation of metabolites from different microalgae
they are classified as microalgae because they contain chloro- is a common method for determining the biological activity
phyll 𝑎 and compounds related to photosynthesis. The so- of these components. Microalgae have been described as rich
called green algae are so named because of the presence of sources of various biocompounds of commercial interest [4].
chlorophyll 𝑎 and chlorophyll 𝑏 in the same proportions as in Bioactive compounds of microalgal origin can be sourced
higher plants [2]. directly from primary metabolism, such as proteins, fatty
Microalgae are photosynthetic organisms that play a key acids, vitamins, and pigments, or can be synthesized from
role in aquatic ecosystems. Approximately 40% of global pho- secondary metabolism. Such compounds can present
tosynthesis is due to these microorganisms [3]. Microalgal antifungal, antiviral, antialgal, antienzymatic, or antibiotic
metabolism reacts to changes in the external environment actions [5]. Many of these compounds (cyanovirin, oleic acid,
with changes in its intracellular environment. Thus, the linolenic acid, palmitoleic acid, vitamin E, B12, 𝛽-carotene,
manipulation of the culture conditions, or the presence or phycocyanin, lutein, and zeaxanthin) have antimicrobial
, 2738, 2015, 1, Downloaded from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2015/835761, Wiley Online Library on [22/04/2025]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
2 BioMed Research International
Table 1: Principal bioactive compounds extracted from microalgae.
Microalgae Bioactive compounds Reference
Spirulina sp. Polysaccharides [133]
Phycocyanin, C-phycocyanin, Phenolic acids, tocopherols
Spirulina platensis (vitamin E), neophytadiene, phytol, PUFAs (n-3) fatty [7, 39, 81]
acids, oleic acid, linolenic acid, palmitoleic acid
Spirulina fusiformis Diacylglycerols [81]
Astaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, lutein,
Haematococcus pluvialis [8, 39, 81]
𝛽-carotene, oleic acid
Carotenoids, sulfated polysaccharides, sterols, PUFAs
Chlorella sp. [7]
(n-3) fatty acids
Chlorella vulgaris Canthaxanthin, astaxanthin, peptide, oleic acid [13, 39, 133]
Chlorella minutissima Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) [81]
Chlorella ellipsoidea Zeaxanthin, violaxanthin [133]
trans-Betacarotene, cis-betacarotene, 𝛽-carotene, oleic
Dunaliella salina [12, 39, 81]
acid, linolenic acid, palmitic acid
Dunaliella Diacylglycerols [81]
Botryococcus braunii Linear alkadienes (C25, C27, C29, and C31), triene (C29) [12]
Chlorella zofingiensis Astaxanthin [8]
Chlorella protothecoides Lutein, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin [8, 102]
Chlorella pyrenoidosa Lutein, sulfated polysaccharide [39]
Nostoc linckia and Nostoc spongiaeforme Borophycin [81]
Nostoc sp. Cryptophycin [81]
antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory capacities, with the biocompounds used in food, medicine, cosmetics, and phar-
potential for the reduction and prevention of diseases [6–9]. maceuticals and even in the energy industry [10].
In most microalgae, the bioactive compounds are accu- Microalgae are a natural source of highly interesting bio-
mulated in the biomass; however, in some cases, these logically active compounds. These compounds have received
metabolites are excreted into the medium; these are known much attention from researchers and companies in recent
as exometabolites. years due to their potential applications in different life
Bioactive metabolites of microalgal origin are of special science fields. The applications range from the production
interest in the development of new products for medi- of biomass for food and feed to the production of bioactive
cal, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Further compounds for the medical and pharmaceutical industries
research should be conducted with these bioactive com- [9]. Considering the enormous biodiversity of microalgae
pounds to verify their beneficial effects for humans, their and recent developments in genetic engineering, this group
degradability when released into the environment, and their of microorganisms is one of the most promising sources for
effects when used in animals [4]. In this context, the aim of new products and applications [7].
this review is to discuss bioactive metabolites produced by Microalgae are autotrophic microorganisms that use light
microalgae for possible applications in the life sciences. energy and inorganic nutrients (carbon dioxide, nitrogen,
phosphorus, etc.) to develop and synthesize biocompounds
that have high aggregated nutritional value and therapeutic
2. Microalgae with Potential for Obtaining functions, such as lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, pigments,
Bioactive Compounds and polymers. Recent studies have reported that microalgae
can produce different chemical compounds with different
Microalgae are a group of heterogeneous microorganisms biological activities, such as carotenoids, phycobilins, polyun-
that have a great biodiversity of colors, shapes, and cell saturated fatty acids, proteins, polysaccharides, vitamins, and
characteristics, and their manipulation is encompassed by sterols among other chemicals [8, 11, 12].
the field of marine biotechnology. Among the thousands of Components of microalgal origin with antimicrobial,
species of microalgae believed to exist, only a small number antiviral, anticoagulant antienzymatic, antioxidant, antifun-
of them are retained in collections around the world, and gal, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activity, among oth-
it is estimated that only a few hundreds are investigated for ers, were identified [13–18]. The study of the extraction
compounds present in their biomass. Of these, only and a of bioactive compounds from various microalgae, such as
few are industrially cultivated [9]. This untapped diversity Arthrospira (Spirulina), Botryococcus braunii, Chlorella vul-
results in potential applications for these microorganisms in garis, Dunaliella salina, Haematococcus pluvialis, and Nostoc
several biotechnological fields, such as the production of (Table 1), has been investigated [12, 19, 20].
