微藻受到关注,因为它们被认为是能够合成许多生物活性代谢物的绿色织物,具有独特的生物活性。然而,由于与上游和下游工艺相关的高成本,它们在工业规模上的使用仍然是一个挑战。这里,提出了一种生物炼制方法,从绿色微藻Pseudococomyxa单纯形的生物质开始,用于提取两类分子,在化妆品行业具有潜在用途。首先通过超声辅助提取提取类胡萝卜素,然后,从剩余的生物量中,脂质是通过常规提取获得的。乙醇提取物的化学性质表明叶黄素,α-胡萝卜素的生物合成衍生物,作为最丰富的类胡萝卜素。在基于细胞的模型中发现提取物是完全生物相容的,活性作为抗氧化剂和具有体外抗衰老的性质。特别是,富含叶黄素的部分能够激活Nrf2途径,这在衰老过程中也起着关键作用。最后,从残留的生物质中分离出脂质,分离出的脂肪酸部分由棕榈酸和硬脂酸组成。这些分子,完全生物相容性,可以在化妆品配方中用作乳化剂和软化剂。因此,未开发的微藻物种可以代表药妆制剂的可持续来源。关键点:•已在级联方法中探索了伪coccomyxa单纯形。•叶黄素是主要提取的类胡萝卜素,具有抗氧化和抗衰老活性。•脂肪酸主要由棕榈酸和硬脂酸组成。
Microalgae are gaining attention as they are considered green fabrics able to synthesize many bioactive metabolites, with unique biological activities. However, their use at an industrial scale is still a challenge because of the high costs related to upstream and downstream processes. Here, a
biorefinery approach was proposed, starting from the biomass of the green microalga Pseudococcomyxa simplex for the extraction of two classes of molecules with a potential use in the cosmetic industry. Carotenoids were extracted first by an ultrasound-assisted extraction, and then, from the residual biomass, lipids were obtained by a conventional extraction. The chemical characterization of the ethanol extract indicated lutein, a biosynthetic derivative of α-carotene, as the most abundant carotenoid. The extract was found to be fully biocompatible on a cell-based model, active as antioxidant and with an in vitro anti-aging property. In particular, the lutein-enriched fraction was able to activate Nrf2 pathway, which plays a key role also in aging process. Finally, lipids were isolated from the residual biomass and the isolated fatty acids fraction was composed by palmitic and stearic acids. These molecules, fully biocompatible, can find application as emulsifiers and softener agents in cosmetic formulations. Thus, an untapped microalgal species can represent a sustainable source for cosmeceutical formulations. KEY POINTS: • Pseudococcomyxa simplex has been explored in a cascade approach. • Lutein is the main extracted carotenoid and has antioxidant and anti-aging activity. • Fatty acids are mainly composed of palmitic and stearic acids.