Biologically Active Metabolites Synthesized by Microalgae

• Published in: BioMed research international Vol. 2015; no. 2015; pp. 1 - 15
• Main Authors: Costa, Jorge Alberto Vieira, Morais, Etiele Greque de, Vaz, Bruna da Silva, Morais, Michele Greque de
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Publishing Corporation 01.01.2015; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Algae; Alkaloids - biosynthesis; Alkaloids - metabolism; Alkaloids - therapeutic use; Bacterial Proteins - biosynthesis; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - therapeutic use; Biological products; Bioreactors; Biotechnology; Cardiovascular disease; Carrier Proteins - biosynthesis; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Carrier Proteins - therapeutic use; Cholesterol; Fatty acids; Humans; Metabolites; Microalgae - chemistry; Microalgae - genetics; Microalgae - metabolism; Microbiological research; Microorganisms; Physiological aspects; Review; Studies
• ISSN: 2314-6133; 2314-6141; 2314-6141
• DOI: 10.1155/2015/835761

Microalgae are microorganisms that have different morphological, physiological, and genetic traits that confer the ability to produce different biologically active metabolites. Microalgal biotechnology has become a subject of study for various fields, due to the varied bioproducts that can be obtained from these microorganisms. When microalgal cultivation processes are better understood, microalgae can become an environmentally friendly and economically viable source of compounds of interest, because production can be optimized in a controlled culture. The bioactive compounds derived from microalgae have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities, among others. Furthermore, these microorganisms have the ability to promote health and reduce the risk of the development of degenerative diseases. In this context, the aim of this review is to discuss bioactive metabolites produced by microalgae for possible applications in the life sciences.