Extraction of Antioxidant Compounds and Pigments from Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) Assisted by Pulsed Electric Fields and the Binary Mixture of Organic Solvents and Water
Open accessAbstract
The application of pulsed electric fields (PEF) is an innovative extraction technology promoting cell membrane electroporation, thus allowing for an efficient recovery, from an energy point of view, of antioxidant compounds (chlorophylls, carotenoids, total phenolic compounds, etc.) from microalgae. Due to its selectivity and high extraction yield, the effects of PEF pre-treatment (3 kV/cm, 100 kJ/kg) combined with supplementary extraction at different times (5–180 min) and with different solvents (ethanol (EtOH)/H2O, 50:50, v/v; dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/H2O, 50:50, v/v) were evaluated in order to obtain the optimal conditions for the extraction of different antioxidant compounds and pigments. In addition, the results obtained were compared with those of a conventional treatment (without PEF pre-treatment but with constant shaking). After carrying out the different experiments, the best extraction conditions to recover the different compounds were obtained after applying PEF pre-treatment combined with the binary mixture EtOH/H2O, 50:50, v/v, for 60–120 min. PEF extraction was more efficient throughout the study, especially at short extraction times (5–15 min). In this sense, recovery of 55–60%, 85–90%, and 60–70% was obtained for chlorophylls, carotenoids, and total phenolic compounds, respectively, compared to the maximum total extracted amount. These results show that PEF improves the extraction yield of antioxidant bioactive compounds from microalgae and is a promising technology due to its profitability and environmental sustainability.
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Arthrospira platensis is a rich source of flavonoids, vitamins and pigments.
“As it can be seen, Arthrospira platensis is a rich source of flavonoids, vitamins and pigments [28,29,30].”
From Application of Arthrospira platensis for Medicinal Purposes and the Food Industry: A Review of the Literature (2023) · cites this paper as [30]
The Results (§3.1.1; page unavailable) report chlorophyll and carotenoids in extracts of Arthrospira platensis, supporting the pigments part of the claim. The paper does not identify flavonoids or vitamins in this species, so it does not support those parts of the sentence. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredPhycocyanins, chlorophyll, β-carotene, and other carotenoids, vitamins and minerals in Arthrospira platensis mediate the antioxidant and protective effects.
“Phycocyanins, chlorophyll, β-carotene, and other carotenoids, vitamins and minerals in Arthrospira platensis also mediate the antioxidant and protective effects [30,124].”
From Application of Arthrospira platensis for Medicinal Purposes and the Food Industry: A Review of the Literature (2023) · cites this paper as [30]
The Introduction (page unavailable) describes carotenoids, chlorophylls, and other microalgal pigments as antioxidants. Section 3.1.2 (page unavailable) measures antioxidant capacity in Arthrospira extracts and suggests that unmeasured compounds such as vitamin E may contribute. The paper does not establish that phycocyanins, β-carotene specifically, or minerals mediate those effects, nor does it demonstrate protective effects. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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References 44 · Cited by 71
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Ramírez-Moreno, L.; Olvera-Ramírez, R. Traditional and present use of Spirulina sp. (Arthrospira sp.). Interciencia 2006, 31, 657-663.
- Authors
- Martí-Quijal, F. J., Ramon-Mascarell, F., Pallarés, N., Ferrer, E., Berrada, H., Phimolsiripol, Y., & Barba, F. J.
- Affiliations
- Universitat de València (ES)
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Food Science, Toxicology and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitat de València, Avda. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
- Chiang Mai University (TH)
- Corresponding author
- Barba, Francisco J.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Applied Sciences
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2021-08-19
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 16
- Pages
- 7629
- ISSN
- 2076-3417 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3195554497
- Cited by
- 71
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 17
- FWCI
- 5.88
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Applied Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Repository of Digital Objects for Teaching Research and Culture (University of Valencia) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Universitat de València (OTR2021-21736INVES)
- Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (790956)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biotechnology › Microbial Inactivation Methods
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Seaweed-derived Bioactive Compounds
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Keywords
- pulsed electric field, Spirulina platensis, Spirulina, microalgae, antioxidants, chlorophyll, carotenoids, total phenolic compounds, electroporation, extraction optimization, ethanol-water solvent, dimethyl sulfoxide-water solvent, bioactive compound recovery
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