Microalgal Cell Biofactory—Therapeutic, Nutraceutical and Functional Food Applications
Open accessAbstract
Microalgae are multifaceted photosynthetic microorganisms with emerging business potential. They are present ubiquitously in terrestrial and aquatic environments with rich species diversity and are capable of producing significant biomass. Traditionally, microalgal biomass is being used as food and feed in many countries around the globe. The production of microalgal-based bioactive compounds at an industrial scale through biotechnological interventions is gaining interest more recently. The present review provides a detailed overview of the key algal metabolites, which plays a crucial role in nutraceutical, functional foods, and animal/aquaculture feed industries. Bioactive compounds of microalgae known to exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor, and immunomodulatory effects were comprehensively reviewed. The potential microalgal species and biological extracts against human pathogens were also discussed. Further, current technologies involved in upstream and downstream bioprocessing including cultivation, harvesting, and cell disruption were documented. Establishing microalgae as an alternative supplement would complement the sustainable and environmental requirements in the framework of human health and well-being.
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Microalgae can be used for therapy of cancer, diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and for boosting immunity and maintaining brain and heart health by daily consumption.
“Microalgae can be used for the therapy of cancer, diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and they can also be used for boosting immunity and maintenance of the proper brain and heart health by consuming a sufficient quantity of microalgae per day (Barkia et al. 2019; Kiran and Venkata Mohan 2021; Udayan et al. 2021).”
From Production of microalgae with high lipid content and their potential as sources of nutraceuticals (2023) · cites this paper as Kiran and Venkata Mohan 2021
Sections 4.3 and 4.6 describe anticancer activity and ACE-inhibitory peptides relevant to hypertension; section 4.4 describes anti-inflammatory compounds, immune effects, and findings relevant to brain and cardiac health. The claim overstates this evidence as therapy for all the named diseases: section 3.4 reports reduced glucose and insulin in animals, and the brain finding in section 4.4 concerns a rat model. The cited passages do not establish that consuming a sufficient quantity of whole microalgae each day produces all these benefits. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAlgal proteins require substantially less land than both animal- and plant-derived protein sources.
“In terms of land-use efficiency, algal proteins require substantially less land than both animal- and plant-derived protein sources.”
From Navigating the potential of algal peptides: health effects, market applications, and scientific challenges (2026) · cites this paper as [9]
Section 3.5 (Proteins; page not provided) says microalgal protein requires less land per kilogram than chicken, pork, and beef protein. It does not compare land use with plant-derived protein sources; its references to tofu and soybean concern amino-acid composition, not land use. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredProducing 1 kg of algal protein requires about 2.5 m2 of land, whereas pork, chicken, and beef require approximately 47-64 m2, 42-52 m2, and 144-258 m2 of land, respectively.
“For instance, producing 1 kg of algal protein requires only about 2.5 m2 of land, whereas pork, chicken, and beef require approximately 47–64 m2, 42–52 m2, and 144–258 m2 of land, respectively [8,9].”
From Navigating the potential of algal peptides: health effects, market applications, and scientific challenges (2026) · cites this paper as [9]
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References 239 · Cited by 124
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- [99]Amaro H.M. Guedes A.C. Malcata F.X. Antimicrobial activities of microalgae: An invited review Science Against Microbial Pathogens: Communicating Current Research and Technological Advances Mendez-Vilas A. Formatex Microbiology Book Series Badajoz, Spain 2011 1272 1284 978-8-4939-8432-8
- [138]Abbas A.B. Lichtman A.H. Ch.2 Innate Immunity Basic Immunology. Functions and Disorders of the Immune System 3rd ed. Saunders (Elsevier) Philadelphia, PA, USA 2009 312 978-1-4160-4688-2
- Authors
- Kiran, B. R., & Venkata Mohan, S.
- Affiliations
- Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IN)
- Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences Lab, Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering (DEE), CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad 500 007, India
- ORCID
- Kiran, Boda Ravi
- Venue
- Plants
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2021-04-21
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 836
- ISSN
- 2223-7747 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC8143517
- OpenAlex
- W3156034821
- Cited by
- 124
- References
- 239
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 9
- FWCI
- 1.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Plants (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India (BT/HRD/35/01/02/2018)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Seaweed-derived Bioactive Compounds
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Keywords
- microalgae, nutraceuticals, functional foods, algal metabolites, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, anticancer activity, immunomodulation, aquaculture feed, animal feed, microalgal biomass, cell disruption, microalgae cultivation, downstream processing, human pathogens
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