Bioaccessibility of Marine Carotenoids

Understanding Macroalgae: A Comprehensive Exploration of Nutraceutical, Pharmaceutical, and Omics Dimensions

Driven by a surge in global interest in natural products, macroalgae or seaweed, has emerged as a prime source for nutraceuticals and pharmaceutical applications. Characterized by remarkable genetic diversity and a crucial role in marine ecosystems, these organisms offer not only substantial nutritional value in proteins, fibers, vitamins, and minerals, but also a diverse array of bioactive molecules with promising pharmaceutical properties. Furthermore, macroalgae produce approximately 80% of the oxygen in the atmosphere, highlighting their ecological significance. The unique combination of nutritional and bioactive attributes positions macroalgae as an ideal resource for food and medicine in various regions worldwide. This comprehensive review consolidates the latest advancements in the field, elucidating the potential applications of macroalgae in developing nutraceuticals and therapeutics. The review emphasizes the pivotal role of omics approaches in deepening our understanding of macroalgae's physiological and molecular characteristics. By highlighting the importance of omics, this review also advocates for continued exploration and utilization of these extraordinary marine organisms in diverse domains, including drug discovery, functional foods, and other industrial applications. The multifaceted potential of macroalgae warrants further research and development to unlock their full benefits and contribute to advancing global health and sustainable industries.

Bioaccessibility and bioactive potential of different phytochemical classes from nutraceuticals and functional foods

Nutraceuticals and functional foods are composed of especially complex matrices, with polyphenols, carotenoids, minerals, and vitamins, among others, being the main classes of phytochemicals involved in their bioactivities. Despite their wide use, further investigations are needed to certify the proper release of these phytochemicals into the gastrointestinal medium, where the bioaccessibility assay is one of the most frequently used method. The aim of this review was to gather and describe different methods that can be used to assess the bioaccessibility of nutraceuticals and functional foods, along with the most important factors that can impact this process. The link between simulated digestion testing of phytochemicals and their in vitro bioactivity is also discussed, with a special focus on the potential of developing nutraceuticals and functional foods from simple plant materials. The bioactive potential of certain classes of phytochemicals from nutraceuticals and functional foods is susceptible to different variations during the bioaccessibility assessment, with different factors contributing to this variability, namely the chemical composition and the nature of the matrix. Regardless of the high number of studies, the current methodology fails to assume correlations between bioaccessibility and bioactivity, and the findings of this review indicate a necessity for updated and standardized protocols.

Algal Carotenoids: Chemistry, Sources, and Application

Recently, the isolation and identification of various biologically active secondary metabolites from algae have been of scientific interest, with particular attention paid to carotenoids, widely distributed in various photosynthetic organisms, including algal species. Carotenoids are among the most important natural pigments, with many health-promoting effects. Since the number of scientific studies on the presence and profile of carotenoids in algae has increased exponentially along with the interest in their potential commercial applications, this review aimed to provide an overview of the current knowledge (from 2015) on carotenoids detected in different algal species (12 microalgae, 21 green algae, 26 brown algae, and 43 red algae) to facilitate the comparison of the results of different studies. In addition to the presence, content, and identification of total and individual carotenoids in various algae, the method of their extraction and the main extraction parameters were also highlighted.

Marine Natural Products as Innovative Cosmetic Ingredients

Over the course of the last 20 years, numerous studies have identified the benefits of an array of marine natural ingredients for cosmetic purposes, as they present unique characteristics not found in terrestrial organisms. Consequently, several marine-based ingredients and bioactive compounds are under development, used or considered for skin care and cosmetics. Despite the multitude of cosmetics based on marine sources, only a small proportion of their full potential has been exploited. Many cosmetic industries have turned their attention to the sea to obtain innovative marine-derived compounds for cosmetics, but further research is needed to determine and elucidate the benefits. This review gathers information on the main biological targets for cosmetic ingredients, different classes of marine natural products of interest for cosmetic applications, and the organisms from which such products can be sourced. Although organisms from different phyla present different and varied bioactivities, the algae phylum seems to be the most promising for cosmetic applications, presenting compounds of many classes. In fact, some of these compounds present higher bioactivities than their commercialized counterparts, demonstrating the potential presented by marine-derived compounds for cosmetic applications (i.e., Mycosporine-like amino acids and terpenoids’ antioxidant activity). This review also summarizes the major challenges and opportunities faced by marine-derived cosmetic ingredients to successfully reach the market. As a future perspective, we consider that fruitful cooperation among academics and cosmetic industries could lead to a more sustainable market through responsible sourcing of ingredients, implementing ecological manufacturing processes, and experimenting with inventive recycling and reuse programs.

Production, physicochemical investigations, antioxidant effect, and cellular uptake in Caco-2 cells of the supersaturable astaxanthin self-microemulsifying tablets

The purpose of this study was to develop astaxanthin (AST)-loaded self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) tablets and evaluate their physicochemical and biological properties. The optimized liquid (L)-AST SMEDDS formulation was composed of rice bran oil (33.67%), Kolliphor® RH 40 (34.70%), and Span® 20 (31.63%). Two types of hydrophilic polymers (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, HPMC, and polyvinyl alcohol, PVA) solutions were selected as a precipitation inhibitor for AST and incorporated into L-AST SMEDDS to obtain supersaturation and enhance dissolution of AST. The formulation was then mixed with microcrystalline cellulose and subsequently transformed to solid S-AST SMEDDS particles using a spray dryer prior to direct compression into tablets. The HPMC AST SMEDDS tablet and PVA AST SMEDDS tablet were characterized for their physicochemical properties, dissolution, AST release, and stabilities. Moreover, the cellular uptake and antioxidant effect of AST SMEDDS tablets were evaluated in Caco-2 cells. With good tablet characters, both HPMC AST SMEDDS tablet and PVA AST SMEDDS tablet dissolution profiles were improved compared to that of raw AST. While initially less than 50% of AST released from HPMC AST SMEDDS tablet and PVA AST SMEDDS tablet in pH 1.2 medium, after 6 h more than 98% of AST releases in pH 6.8 were achieved which was similar to L-AST SMEDDS profile. Cellular antioxidant activities of L-AST SMEDDS and HPMC AST SMEDDS tablet & PVA AST SMEDDS tablet were significantly greater than pure AST powder. HPMC AST SMEDDS tablet showed better uptake and deeper penetration through Caco-2 cells than that in PVA AST SMEDDS tablet and pure powder. Our successfully developed AST SMEDDS tablets were demonstrated to be a potential platform to deliver highly lipophilic AST and improve permeation and bioavailability.

Fucoxanthin: A Promising Phytochemical on Diverse Pharmacological Targets

Fucoxanthin (FX) is a special carotenoid having an allenic bond in its structure. FX is extracted from a variety of algae and edible seaweeds. It has been proved to contain numerous health benefits and preventive effects against diseases like diabetes, obesity, liver cirrhosis, malignant cancer, etc. Thus, FX can be used as a potent source of both pharmacological and nutritional ingredient to prevent infectious diseases. In this review, we gathered the information regarding the current findings on antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, skin protective, anti-obesity, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and other properties of FX including its bioavailability and stability characteristics. This review aims to assist further biochemical studies in order to develop further pharmaceutical assets and nutritional products in combination with FX and its various metabolites.

Astaxanthin from Crustaceans and Their Byproducts: A Bioactive Metabolite Candidate for Therapeutic Application

In recent years, the food, pharma, and cosmetic industries have shown considerable interest in bioactive molecules of marine origin that show high potential for application as nutraceuticals and therapeutic agents. Astaxanthin, a lipid-soluble and orange-reddish-colored carotenoid pigment, is one of the most investigated pigments. Natural astaxanthin is mainly produced from microalgae, and it shows much stronger antioxidant properties than its synthetic counterpart. This paper aims to summarize and discuss the important aspects and recent findings associated with the possible use of crustacean byproducts as a source of astaxanthin. In the last five years of research on the crustaceans and their byproducts as a source of natural astaxanthin, there are many new findings regarding the astaxanthin content in different species and new green extraction protocols for its extraction. However, there is a lack of information on the amounts of astaxanthin currently obtained from the byproducts as well as on the cost-effectiveness of the astaxanthin production from the byproducts. Improvement in these areas would most certainly contribute to the reduction of waste and reuse in the crustacean processing industry. Successful exploitation of byproducts for recovery of this valuable compound would have both environmental and social benefits. Finally, astaxanthin’s strong biological activity and prominent health benefits have been discussed in the paper.

A smart cauliflower-like carrier for astaxanthin delivery to relieve colon inflammation

As a fat-soluble carotenoid, astaxanthin has excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammation biological activities, but its poor biocompatibility and low stability limit application of astaxanthin in the food industry. In this study, cauliflower-like carriers (CCs) were constructed based on caseinate, chitosan-triphenylphosphonium (TPP) and sodium alginate through an electrostatic self-assembly method to improve the biocompatibility, stability and targeting transport properties of astaxanthin. The smart CCs showed pH-response release and mitochondrial targeted characteristics. In vitro studies demonstrated that the CCs could improve the internalization of astaxanthin, and significantly inhibited the excessive production of reactive oxygen species and the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential caused by oxidative stress. In vivo studies revealed that the astaxanthin-loaded CCs could effectively relieve the colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate and protect the integrity of the colon tissue structure. The astaxanthin-loaded CCs could significantly inhibit the expression of inflammation factors such as interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, cyclooxygenase-2, myeloperoxidase, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nitric oxide. Moreover, the astaxanthin-loaded CCs could maintain the expression of zonula occludens-1, increase the abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillaceae in the intestine. In a word, the constructed astaxanthin delivery system provided a potential application for the oral uptake hydrophobic bio-activator in intervention of ulcerative colitis.

Metabolomics of Chlorophylls and Carotenoids: Analytical Methods and Metabolome-Based Studies

Chlorophylls and carotenoids are two families of antioxidants present in daily ingested foods, whose recognition as added-value ingredients runs in parallel with the increasing number of demonstrated functional properties. Both groups include a complex and vast number of compounds, and extraction and analysis methods evolved recently to a modern protocol. New methodologies are more potent, precise, and accurate, but their application requires a better understanding of the technical and biological context. Therefore, the present review compiles the basic knowledge and recent advances of the metabolomics of chlorophylls and carotenoids, including the interrelation with the primary metabolism. The study includes material preparation and extraction protocols, the instrumental techniques for the acquisition of spectroscopic and spectrometric properties, the workflows and software tools for data pre-processing and analysis, and the application of mass spectrometry to pigment metabolomics. In addition, the review encompasses a critical description of studies where metabolomics analyses of chlorophylls and carotenoids were developed as an approach to analyzing the effects of biotic and abiotic stressors on living organisms.

Bioaccessibility and Cellular Uptake of Carotenoids Extracted from Bactris gasipaes Fruit: Differences between Conventional and Ionic Liquid-Mediated Extraction

Currently, on an industrial scale, synthetic colorants are used in many fields, as well as those extracted with conventional organic solvents (COSs), leading to several environmental issues. Therefore, we developed a sustainable extraction and purification method mediated by ionic liquids (IL), which is considered an alternative high-performance replacement for COSs. Carotenoids are natural pigments with low bioaccessibility (BCT) and bioavailability (BV) but with huge importance to health. To investigate if the BCT and cellular uptake of the carotenoids are modified by the extraction method, we conducted a comparison assay between both extraction procedures (IL vs. COS). For this, we used the Amazonian fruit Bactris gasipaes, a rich source of pro-vitamin A carotenoids, to obtain the extract, which was emulsified and subjected to an in vitro digestion model followed by the Caco-2 cell absorption assay. The bioaccessibility of carotenoids using IL was better than those using COS (33.25%, and 26.84%, respectively). The cellular uptake of the carotenoids extracted with IL was 1.4-fold higher than those extracted using COS. Thus, IL may be a feasible alternative as extraction solvent in the food industry, replacing COS, since, in this study, no IL was present in the final extract.

The potential of marine resources for retinal diseases: a systematic review of the molecular mechanisms

We rely on vision more than on any other sense to obtain information about our environment. Hence, the loss or even impairment of vision profoundly affects our quality of life. Diet or food components have already demonstrated beneficial effects on the development of retinal diseases. Recently, there has been a growing interest in resources from marine animals and plants for the prevention of retinal diseases through nutrition. Especially fish intake and omega-3 fatty acids have already led to promising results, including associations with a reduced incidence of retinal diseases. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are insufficiently explained. The aim of this review was to summarize the known mechanistic effects of marine resources on the pathophysiological processes in retinal diseases. We performed a systematic literature review following the PRISMA guidelines and identified 107 studies investigating marine resources in the context of retinal diseases. Of these, 46 studies described the underlying mechanisms including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiangiogenic/vasoprotective, cytoprotective, metabolic, and retinal function effects, which we critically summarize. We further discuss perspectives on the use of marine resources for human nutrition to prevent retinal diseases with a particular focus on regulatory aspects, health claims, safety, and bioavailability.

Marine Natural Products: Promising Candidates in the Modulation of Gut-Brain Axis towards Neuroprotection

In recent decades, several neuroprotective agents have been provided in combating neuronal dysfunctions; however, no effective treatment has been found towards the complete eradication of neurodegenerative diseases. From the pathophysiological point of view, growing studies are indicating a bidirectional relationship between gut and brain termed gut-brain axis in the context of health/disease. Revealing the gut-brain axis has survived new hopes in the prevention, management, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Accordingly, introducing novel alternative therapies in regulating the gut-brain axis seems to be an emerging concept to pave the road in fighting neurodegenerative diseases. Growing studies have developed marine-derived natural products as hopeful candidates in a simultaneous targeting of gut-brain dysregulated mediators towards neuroprotection. Of marine natural products, carotenoids (e.g., fucoxanthin, and astaxanthin), phytosterols (e.g., fucosterol), polysaccharides (e.g., fucoidan, chitosan, alginate, and laminarin), macrolactins (e.g., macrolactin A), diterpenes (e.g., lobocrasol, excavatolide B, and crassumol E) and sesquiterpenes (e.g., zonarol) have shown to be promising candidates in modulating gut-brain axis. The aforementioned marine natural products are potential regulators of inflammatory, apoptotic, and oxidative stress mediators towards a bidirectional regulation of the gut-brain axis. The present study aims at describing the gut-brain axis, the importance of gut microbiota in neurological diseases, as well as the modulatory role of marine natural products towards neuroprotection.

Epigenomic, Transcriptomic, and Protective Effect of Carotenoid Fucoxanthin in High Glucose-Induced Oxidative Stress in Mes13 Kidney Mesangial Cells

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the major cause of kidney related diseases in patients induced by high glucose (HG) affecting around 40% of type 1 and 2 diabetic patients. It is characterized by excessive inflammation inducing factors, reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction, and potential epigenomic related changes. Fucoxanthin (FX), a carotenoid found in brown seaweed, has a structure which includes an allenic bond and a 5,6-monoepoxide in the molecule, with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. However, understanding of the impact of FX on DN was lacking. In this study we tested the early effects of high glucose (HG) on mouse mesangial kidney Mes13 cells, a potential in vitro cell culture model of DN. Our results show that HG induced oxidative stress on kidney mesangial Mes13 cells, while FX treatment attenuates the oxidative stress by decreasing the ROS, demonstrated by flow cytometry. Next, we utilized next-generation sequencing (NGS) to profile the HG-induced early epigenomic and transcriptomic changes in this in vitro DN model and the protective effects of FX. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were analyzed using R software in HG and FX treated groups. Differential regulation of signaling pathways was studied using Reactome Pathway Analysis in the comparison. DEG analysis shows that novel biomarkers with specific pathways, including interleukin regulation, Toll-like receptor pathway, and PKA phosphorylation pathways, were found to be modulated by the FX treatment. TGF β 1i1 (TGFB 1i1), MAP-3-kinase-13(MAP3K13) involved in crucial cellular processes including glucose metabolism, phosphodiesterase regulation was methylated in HG, which was demethylated with FX treatment. Integrated transcriptomic and CpG methylome analysis of DEGs and DMRs revealed that genes like adenylate cyclase (Adcy7), calponin 1 (CNN1), potassium voltage-gated channel interacting protein 2 (KCNIP2), phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase type 1 β (PIP5K1B), and transmembrane protein with EGF-like and two follistatin-like domains 1 (TMEFF1), which were modulated by FX in HG-exposed Mes13 cells, potentially modulate ion channel transport and glucose metabolism. In summary, our current study shows that novel early epigenomic and transcriptomic biomarkers were altered during the disease progression of HG-induced DN and that FX modified these alterations potentially contributing to the protective effects of mesangial cells from the HG-induced oxidative stress and damage.

Recent Advances in Marine-Based Nutraceuticals and Their Health Benefits

The oceans have been the Earth's most valuable source of food. They have now also become a valuable and versatile source of bioactive compounds. The significance of marine organisms as a natural source of new substances that may contribute to the food sector and the overall health of humans are expanding. This review is an update on the recent studies of functional seafood compounds (chitin and chitosan, pigments from algae, fish lipids and omega-3 fatty acids, essential amino acids and bioactive proteins/peptides, polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, and minerals) focusing on their potential use as nutraceuticals and health benefits.

Antioxidant Molecules from Marine Fungi: Methodologies and Perspectives

The marine environment represents a prosperous existing resource for bioprospecting, covering 70% of the planet earth, and hosting a huge biodiversity. Advances in the research are progressively uncovering the presence of unknown microorganisms, which have evolved unique metabolic and genetic pathways for the production of uncommon secondary metabolites. Fungi have a leading role in marine bioprospecting since they represent a prolific source of structurally diverse bioactive metabolites. Several bioactive compounds from marine fungi have already been characterized including antibiotics, anticancer, antioxidants and antivirals. Nowadays, the search for natural antioxidant molecules capable of replacing those synthetic currently used, is an aspect that is receiving significant attention. Antioxidants can inactivate reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, preventing the insurgence of several degenerative diseases including cancer, autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, they also find applications in different fields, including food preservation, healthcare and cosmetics. This review focuses on the production of antioxidants from marine fungi. We begin by proposing a survey of the available tools suitable for the evaluation of antioxidants, followed by the description of various classes of marine fungi antioxidants together with their extraction strategies. In addition, a view of the future perspectives and trends of these natural products within the "blue economy" is also presented.

Absorbability of Astaxanthin Was Much Lower in Obese Mice Than in Normal Mice

Astaxanthin has been favored as a health food supplement by obese consumers. However, no detailed descriptions are available concerning the absorption of astaxanthin in obese individuals. In this study, we conducted acute and chronic feeding experiments in C57BL/6J mice to study the differences in astaxanthin absorption in normal and obese bodies. The obesity condition greatly decreased astaxanthin concentration in the blood and liver, its accumulation in tissues and organs, and the bioaccessibility. This may be related to the excessive intake of sucrose, fatty acids, and cholesterol, the increased gastrointestinal motility, and the disorder of gut microbiota in the obese body. Overall, our study showed that the obese body had a far less oral absorbability of astaxanthin than a normal body, and we suggest that the recommended or approved doses of astaxanthin can be properly increased for the obese body in the hope that astaxanthin will play a more active role in obese individuals.

Brown Seaweeds for the Management of Metabolic Syndrome and Associated Diseases

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by the coexistence of different metabolic disorders which increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, metabolic syndrome leads to a reduction in patients' quality of life as well as to an increase in morbidity and mortality. In the last few decades, it has been demonstrated that seaweeds exert multiple beneficial effects by virtue of their micro- and macronutrient content, which could help in the management of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This review aims to provide an updated overview on the potential of brown seaweeds for the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome and its associated diseases, based on the most recent evidence obtained from in vitro and in vivo preclinical and clinical studies. Owing to their great potential for health benefits, brown seaweeds are successfully used in some nutraceuticals and functional foods for treating metabolic syndrome comorbidities. However, some issues still need to be tackled and deepened to improve the knowledge of their ADME/Tox profile in humans, in particular by finding validated indexes of their absorption and obtaining reliable information on their efficacy and long-term safety.

Carotenoids and Chlorophylls as Antioxidants

Chlorophylls and carotenoids are natural pigments that are present in our daily diet, especially with the increasing tendency towards more natural and healthy behaviors among consumers. As disturbed antioxidant homeostasis capacities seem to be implicated in the progress of different pathologies, the antioxidant properties of both groups of lipophilic compounds have been studied. The objective of this review was to analyze the state-of-the-art advances in this field. We conducted a systematic bibliographic search (Web of Science™ and Scopus®), followed by a comprehensive and critical description of the results, with special emphasis on highly cited and more recently published research. In addition to an evaluative description of the methodologies, this review discussed different approaches used to obtain a physiological perspective, from in vitro studies to in vivo assays using oxidative biomarkers. From a chemical viewpoint, many studies have demonstrated how a pigment's structure influences its antioxidant response and the underlying mechanisms. The major outcome is that this knowledge is essential for interpreting new data in a metabolic networks context in the search for more direct applications to health. A promising era is coming where the term "antioxidant" is understood in terms of its broadest significance.

Therapeutic Effect of Seaweed Derived Xanthophyl Carotenoid on Obesity Management; Overview of the Last Decade

Present-day lifestyles associated with high calorie-fat intake and accumulation, as well as energy imbalance, have led to the development of obesity and its comorbidities, which have emerged as some of the major health issues globally. To combat the disease, many studies have reported the anti-obesity effects of natural compounds in foods, with some advantages over chemical treatments. Carotenoids, such as xanthophyll derived from seaweeds, have attracted the attention of researchers due to their notable biological activities, which are associated mainly with their antioxidant properties. Their involvement in oxidative stress modulation, the regulation of major transcription factors and enzymes, and their antagonistic effects on various obesity parameters have been examined in both in vitro and in vivo studies. The present review is a collation of published research over the last decade on the antioxidant properties of seaweed xanthophyll carotenoids, with a focus on fucoxanthin and astaxanthin and their mechanisms of action in obesity prevention and treatment.

A Comprehensive Review of the Nutraceutical and Therapeutic Applications of Red Seaweeds (Rhodophyta)

The red seaweed group (Rhodophyta) is one of the phyla of macroalgae, among the groups Phaeophyceae and Chlorophyta, brown and green seaweeds, respectively. Nowadays, all groups of macroalgae are getting the attention of the scientific community due to the bioactive substances they produce. Several macroalgae products have exceptional properties with nutraceutical, pharmacological, and biomedical interest. The main compounds studied are the fatty acids, pigments, phenols, and polysaccharides. Polysaccharides are the most exploited molecules, which are already widely used in various industries and are, presently, entering into more advanced applications from the therapeutic point of view. The focuses of this review are the red seaweeds' compounds, its proprieties, and its uses. Moreover, this work discusses new possible applications of the compounds of the red seaweeds.

Evaluation of the protein and bioactive compound bioaccessibility/bioavailability and cytotoxicity of the extracts obtained from aquaculture and fisheries by-products

Bioavailability, bioaccessibility, bioactivity and cytotoxicity define if a bioactive compound obtained from aquaculture and associated by-products can be assimilated and used for the body in a safe and efficient way. Four models are used to evaluate the bioavailability: in vitro (simulated gastrointestinal digestion using intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cell cultures); ex vivo (gastrointestinal organs or organoids in laboratory conditions); in situ (intestinal perfusion in animals) and in vivo (animal studies and human studies). In vitro models are very effective, predicting in vivo actions since they evaluate multiple conditions regardless physiological effects. However, in vivo systems are essential for the validation of the results. The use of a combined model between human digestion and cell culture-based models would solve these difficulties, allowing valid conclusions. These studies must be completed with the evaluation of cytotoxicity and oxidative stress markers, providing most accurate results regarding the adverse effect on the body. These methods would test the effect of food structure, food composition, dietary factors and the effect of food processing on bioavailability. Further studies should be carried out to establish a standardized method and achieve a balance between the use of in vivo and in vitro systems.

Variation in Lipid Components from 15 Species of Tropical and Temperate Seaweeds

The present study describes the variation in lipid components from 15 species of seaweeds belonging to the Chlorophyta, Ochrophyta, and Rhodophyta phyla collected in tropical (Indonesia) and temperate (Japan) areas. Analyses were performed of multiple components, including chlorophylls, carotenoids, n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and alpha tocopherol (α-Toc). Chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoid contents varied among phyla, but not with the sampling location. Chl a and b were the major chlorophylls in Chlorophyta. Chl a and Chl c were the main chlorophylls in Ochrophyta, while Chl a was the dominant chlorophylls in Rhodophyta. β-Carotene and fucoxanthin were detected as major seaweed carotenoids. The former was present in all species in a variety of ranges, while the latter was mainly found in Ochrophyta and in small quantities in Rhodophyta, but not in Chlorophyta. The total lipids (TL) content and fatty acids composition were strongly affected by sampling location. The TL and n-3 PUFAs levels tended to be higher in temperate seaweeds compared with those in tropical seaweeds. The major n-3 PUFAs in different phyla, namely, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and stearidonic acid (SDA) in Ochrophyta, α-linolenic acid (ALA) and SDA in Chlorophyta, and EPA in Rhodophyta, accumulated in temperate seaweeds. Chlorophylls, their derivatives, and carotenoids are known to have health benefits, such as antioxidant activities, while n-3 PUFAs are known to be essential nutrients that positively influence human nutrition and health. Therefore, seaweed lipids could be used as a source of ingredients with health benefits for functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Sublingual Delivery of Astaxanthin through a Novel Ascorbyl Palmitate-Based Nanoemulsion: Preliminary Data

Astaxanthin is a carotenoid extracted from several seaweeds with ascertained therapeutic activity. With specific reference, astaxanthin is widely used in clinical practice to improve ocular tissue health and skin protection from UV ray damages. Despite its well-documented pleiotropic actions and demonstrated clinical efficacy, its bioavailability in humans is low and limited because of its hydrophobicity and poor dissolution in enteric fluids. Furthermore, astaxanthin is very unstable molecule and very sensitive to light exposure and thermal stress. Taken together, these pharmacological and chemical–physical features strongly limit pharmaceutical and nutraceutical development of astaxanthin-based products and as a consequence its full clinical usage. This work describes the preliminary in vitro investigation of sublingual absorption of astaxanthin through a novel ascorbyl palmitate (ASP) based nanoemulsion.

Pigment-depletion in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) post-smolt starved at elevated temperature is not influenced by dietary carotenoid type and increasing α-tocopherol level

Pigment-depletion in the fillets of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) arises after periods of elevated water temperatures with voluntary starving. This study tested the effects of dietary pre-loading with different pigment carotenoids (astaxanthin and/or canthaxanthin) combined with two α-tocopherol levels (normal and high: 500 and 1000 mg/kg, respectively) on pigment-depletion in vivo in Atlantic salmon after four weeks of challenge. We also tested whether oxidative stress manifested as an underlying depletion mechanism. Carotenoid levels in whole fillet homogenates were not decreased significantly post-challenge but fillet α-tocopherol concentrations were increased significantly in contrast to decreased oxidative stress indices. However, image analysis revealed localised fillet pigment-depletion following all dietary treatments. These data imply that localised pigment-depletion was not prevented by pre-loading of the fillet with different carotenoid-types/mixtures and increased of α-tocopherol levels from normal to high, respectively. Further, we suggest that oxidative stress might not facilitate pigment-depletion in vivo.

Nutrient Deprivation-Associated Changes in Green Microalga Coelastrum sp. TISTR 9501RE Enhanced Potent Antioxidant Carotenoids

The utilization of microalgae as a source of carotenoid productions has gained increasing popularity due to its advantages, such as a relatively fast turnaround time. In this study, a newly discovered Coelastrum sp. TISTR 9501RE was characterized and investigated for its taxonomical identity and carotenoid profile. To the best of our knowledge, this report was the first to fully investigate the carotenoid profiles in a microalga of the genus Coelastrum. Upon use of limited nutrients as a stress condition, the strain was able to produce astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, and lutein, as the major carotenoid components. Additionally, the carotenoid esters were found to be all astaxanthin derivatives, and β-carotene was not significantly present under this stress condition. Importantly, we also demonstrated that this practical stress condition could be combined with simple growing factors, such as ambient sunlight and temperature, to achieve even more focused carotenoid profiles, i.e., increased overall amounts of the aforementioned carotenoids with fewer minor components and chlorophylls. In addition, this green microalga was capable of tolerating a wide range of salinity. Therefore, this study paved the way for more investigations and developments on this fascinating strain, which will be reported in due course.