Bioactive lipids in Dunaliella salina: implications for functional foods and health

Rita Pais, Tiago Conde, Bruna B. Neves, Marisa Pinho, Marta Coelho, Hugo Pereira, Alexandre M. C. Rodrigues, Pedro Domingues, Ana Maria Gomes, Ralph Urbatzka, Rosário Domingues, Tânia Melo*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

Dunaliella salina is a green microalga extensively explored for β-carotene production, while knowledge of its lipid composition is still limited and poorly investigated. Among lipids, polar lipids have been highlighted as bioactive phytochemicals with health-promoting properties. This research aimed to provide an in-depth lipidome profiling of D. salina using liquid and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The lipid content was 6.8%, including phospholipids, glycolipids, betaine lipids, sphingolipids, triglycerides, diglycerides, and pigments. Among the total esterified fatty acids, 13.6% were 18:3 omega-3 and 14.7% were 18:1 omega-9. The lipid extract of D. salina showed anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 activity at 100 µg/mL, dose-dependent antioxidant scavenging activity, and antidiabetic activity by inhibiting α-glucosidase activity at 25 and 125 µg/mL. In conclusion, the lipid extract of D. salina has the potential to be used as a functional food ingredient or in the nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industries.

Original languageEnglish
Article number3321
Number of pages18
JournalFoods
Volume13
Issue number20
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 19 Oct 2024

Keywords

  • Fatty acids
  • Food
  • Lipidomics
  • Lipids
  • Microalgae

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