Microalgae polyunsaturated fatty acids

The red microalga genus Porphyridium is a source of biochemicals possessing nutritional and therapeutic values. The biochemicals include polysaccharides that have anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids such as zeaxanthin, and fluorescent phycobiliproteins. 

Another commercially available product containing naturally occurring marine products is Formulaid , produced by Martek Biosciences as a nutritional supplement for infant formulas. Formulaid contains two fatty acids, arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), extracted from a variety of marine microalgae. ARA and DHA are the most abundant polyunsaturated fatty acids found in breast milk, and they are the most important fatty acids used in the development of brain gray matter. They are especially desirable for use in infant formulas because they come from nonmeat sources and can be advertised as vegetarian additives to the product. 

Yap, C. Y. and Chen, F. (2001). Polyunsaturated fatty acids Biological significance, biosynthesis, and production by microalgae-Uke organisms. In "Algae and Their Biotechnological Potential", (F. Chen and Y. Jiang, Eds), 1-4020-0162-2, pp. 1-32. Kluver Academic Publishers, Dordrecht. 

O. (2013) Identification and functionai characterization of genes encoding omega-3 polyunsaturated Fatty Acid biosynthetic activities from uniceiiu-iar microalgae. Mar. Drugs, 11 (12), 5116-5129. 

Tonon, T., Harvey, D., Larson, T. R., Graham, I. A. (2002). Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid production and partitioning to triacylglycerols in four microalgae. Phytochemistry, 67(1), 15-24. 

MANSOUR M P, FRAMPTON D M F, NICHOLS P D, VOLKMAN J K and BLACKBURN S I (2005) Lipid and fatty acid yield of nine stationary-phase microalgae Applications and unusual C-24-C-28 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Journal of Applied Phycology, 17, 287-300. 

Cohen, Z. and Heimer, Y.M. (1992) Production of polyunsaturated fatty acid (EPA, ARA and GLA) by the microalgae Porphyrium and Spirulina, in Industrial Applications of Single Cell Oils, eds. D.J. Kyle and C. Ratledge, American Oil Chemists Society, Champaign, IL, pp. 243-273... 

M.J. Grima, E.M. Lipase-Catalyzed Esterification of Glycerol and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids from Fish and Microalgae Oils. J. Bio- 2I tech. 70, 379-391 (1999). 

Dunstan GA, Volkman, JK, Barrett SM, Garland CD. 1993. Changes in the Upid composition and maximisation of the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of three microalgae grown in mass culture. Journal of Applied Phycology 5 71-83. 

This short list can be supplemented by Formulaid from Martek Biosdences Corporation (USA). This is not a drug in the classical sense of the term, but rather a dietetic complement containing DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which is added to cow s milk to replace human maternal milk. DHA is a polyunsaturated essential fatty acid that is prepared industrially by culturing a microalga, the dinoflagellate Crypthecodinium cohnii (see Chapter 18). 

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