ReviewCommercial applications of microalgae
Section snippets
Chemical composition of microalgae
Microalgae are able to enhance the nutritional content of conventional food preparations and hence, to positively affect the health of humans and animals. This is due to their original chemical composition. Table 1 presents a comparison of the general compositions of human food sources with that of different algae.
The high protein content of various microalgal species is one of the main reasons to consider them as an unconventional source of protein (4, 11). In addition, the amino acid pattern
Human nutrition
Microalgae for human nutrition are nowadays marketed in different forms such as tablets, capsules and liquids. They can also be incorporated into pastas, snack foods, candy bars or gums, and beverages (23, 24). Owing to their diverse chemical properties, they can act as a nutritional supplement or represent a source of natural food colorants (2, 11, 25). The commercial applications are dominated by four strains: Arthrospira, Chlorella, D. salina and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae.
Arthrospira is used
Microalgae in cosmetics
Some microalgal species are established in the skin care market, the main ones being Arthrospira and Chlorella (51). Some cosmeticians have even invested in their own microalgal production system (LVMH, Paris, France and Daniel Jouvance, Carnac, France). Microalgae extracts can be mainly found in face and skin care products (e.g., anti-aging cream, refreshing or regenerant care products, emollient and as an anti-irritant in peelers). Microalgae are also represented in sun protection and hair
High-value molecules
Owing to their global composition, microalgae are generally used in the field of human and animal nutrition. However, pure molecules can also be extracted when their concentrations are sufficiently high. This leads to valuable products like fatty acids, pigments and stable isotope biochemicals.
Conclusion
Some microalgae have been exploited for millenia (Nostoc in China and Arthrospira in Chad and Mexico). Currently, they have several applications from human and animal nutrition to cosmetics and the production of high-value molecules (e.g., fatty acids, pigments, stable isotope biochemicals, Table 5). However, microalgae are still not a well-studied group from a biotechnological point of view. Indeed, among the 10,000 species that are believed to exist, only a few thousand strains are kept in
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