Microalgae: A Promising Source of Bioactive Phycobiliproteins
Latifa Tounsi,
Hajer Ben Hlima,
Faiez Hentati,
Ons Hentati,
Hana Derbel,
Philippe Michaud,
Slim Abdelkafi
Affiliations
Latifa Tounsi
Enzymatic Engineering and Microbiology Laboratory, Algae Biotechnology Team, Biological Engineering Department, National School of Engineers of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3038, Tunisia
Hajer Ben Hlima
Enzymatic Engineering and Microbiology Laboratory, Algae Biotechnology Team, Biological Engineering Department, National School of Engineers of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3038, Tunisia
Faiez Hentati
INRAE, Animal Research Unit and Functionalities of Animal Products (UR AFPA), University of Lorraine, USC 340, F-54000 Nancy, France
Ons Hentati
Enzymatic Engineering and Microbiology Laboratory, Algae Biotechnology Team, Biological Engineering Department, National School of Engineers of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3038, Tunisia
Hana Derbel
Enzymatic Engineering and Microbiology Laboratory, Algae Biotechnology Team, Biological Engineering Department, National School of Engineers of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3038, Tunisia
Enzymatic Engineering and Microbiology Laboratory, Algae Biotechnology Team, Biological Engineering Department, National School of Engineers of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3038, Tunisia
Phycobiliproteins are photosynthetic light-harvesting pigments isolated from microalgae with fluorescent, colorimetric and biological properties, making them a potential commodity in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. Hence, improving their metabolic yield is of great interest. In this regard, the present review aimed, first, to provide a detailed and thorough overview of the optimization of culture media elements, as well as various physical parameters, to improve the large-scale manufacturing of such bioactive molecules. The second section of the review offers systematic, deep and detailed data about the current main features of phycobiliproteins. In the ultimate section, the health and nutritional claims related to these bioactive pigments, explaining their noticeable potential for biotechnological uses in various fields, are examined.
