Biological Activity of Hydrophilic Extract of <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> Grown on Post-Fermentation Leachate from a Biogas Plant Supplied with Stillage and Maize Silage
Dariusz Zielinski,
Justyna Fraczyk,
Marcin Debowski,
Marcin Zielinski,
Zbigniew J. Kaminski,
Dorota Kregiel,
Claus Jacob,
Beata Kolesinska
Affiliations
Dariusz Zielinski
Institute of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Zeromskiego 116, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
Justyna Fraczyk
Institute of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Zeromskiego 116, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
Marcin Debowski
Department of Environmental Engineering, Institute of Engineering and Environmental Protection, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 117 a, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland
Marcin Zielinski
Department of Environmental Engineering, Institute of Engineering and Environmental Protection, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 117 a, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland
Zbigniew J. Kaminski
Institute of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Zeromskiego 116, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
Dorota Kregiel
Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Biochemistry and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 171/173, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
Claus Jacob
Division of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Saarland University, D-66123 Saarbruecken, Germany
Beata Kolesinska
Institute of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Zeromskiego 116, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
Algae are employed commonly in cosmetics, food and pharmaceuticals, as well as in feed production and biorefinery processes. In this study, post-fermentation leachate from a biogas plant which exploits stillage and maize silage was utilized as a culture medium for Chlorella vulgaris. The content of polyphenols in hydrophilic extracts of the Chlorella vulgaris biomass was determined, and the extracts were evaluated for their antioxidant activity (DPPH assay), antibacterial activity (against Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus plantarum, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis) and antifungal activity (against Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The use of the post-fermentation leachate was not found to affect the biological activity of the microalgae. The aqueous extract of Chlorella vulgaris biomass was also observed to exhibit activity against nematodes. The results of this study suggest that Chlorella vulgaris biomass cultured on post-fermentation leachate from a biogas plant can be successfully employed as a source of natural antioxidants, food supplements, feed, natural antibacterial and antifungal compounds, as well as in natural methods of plant protection.
