Organic Culture Media for Sustainable Carotenoid Production from Microalgae

Abstract

Antioxidants, particularly those carotenoid produced in microalgae, can be increased by induced stress, including light, nutrients, and salinity. Nutrient stress can be achieved by using imbalanced nutrients to boost antioxidant production without compromising the growth, that is, biomass. Culture media is an important factor in microalgae production because it is affecting growth and biomass production, as well as the biochemical content of microalgae. Synthetic or conventional culture media is considerably expensive for mass culture and the supply is limited, especially for developing countries. Therefore, there is a need for cheap and easily available culture media. This chapter discusses the use of organic media to culture several species of microalgae and cyanobacteria (Arthrospira platensis) for antioxidant production, particularly of those total carotenoids and beta carotene. The antioxidant content data mainly comes from our research with several organic culture media, such as fermented water hyacinth biomass, soybean processing waste, and Acadian Marine Plant Extract Powder (AMPEP). Carotenoid can be used for pharmaceuticals, including for anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity. Also, they can be used in aquaculture to increase cultured animals’ health and immunity. Using organic media that may also serve as waste stream microalgae, which is aiding in a sustainable microalgae culture. Additional data presented in this chapter come from literature reviews of similar research topics.