Algal Cultivation for Obtaining High-Value Products

Overview & Synopsis

Interest in the application of High-Value Products from natural sources for human health, the food and cosmetics industry, and animal feed has increased significantly as consumers increasingly prefer natural ingredients and show concerns about the toxic effects of synthetic compounds. Photosynthetic organisms have evolved different strategies to survive under complex and extreme environmental conditions (high light, high salinity, extreme temperature, nutrient deficiency, UV- radiation) by adapting their metabolism. Various species of algae can produce large amounts of secondary metabolites such as carotenoids, polyphenols, and essential oils, which have varied therapeutic properties, due to their antioxidant activity. This variation may depend mainly on the species, strains, genetic diversity, and/or abiotic stress. For this reason, numerous studies have been carried out to increase knowledge in this field and to optimize the recovery of natural antioxidant compounds under different growing conditions and with different stress factors. This Special Issue focuses on promoting algae capable of producing High-Value Products, as well as cultivation technologies, strategies, and growth conditions that lead to the popularization of these compounds; techniques for the extraction and purification of these compounds and their potential applications will also be explored.