Reserve, structural and extracellular polysaccharides of Chlorella vulgaris: A holistic approach

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

Ferreira, AS (Author) Other; Ferreira, SS (Author) Other; Alexandra Correia (Author) ICBAS; Manuel Vilanova (Author) ICBAS; Silva, TH (Author) Other; Coimbra, MA (Author) Other; Nunes, C (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Algal Research

Vol. 45

ISSN: 2211-9264

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 27 Citations

Scopus - 32 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00R-GFF

DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2019.101757

Abstract (EN): Chlorella vulgaris is a green microalga approved for human consumption with high biological value due to its high protein content and polyunsaturated fatty acids composition. Moreover, this microalga is rich in starch and structural polysaccharides that could have potential to be valued as food ingredients. To fulfill this hypothesis, starch digestibility was evaluated in raw and boiled biomass, showing 43% and 71% of glucose released, respectively. The low extraction yield of starch obtained with water (13%) allowed to infer protein hindrance. This was overcome by 1 M and 4 M KOH aqueous solutions that allowed to obtain an additional 51% of starch. The final residue left showed that only 16% of total starch remained unextracted. KOH solutions allowed also to obtain galactans composed by 1,3-, 1,6- and 1,3,6-linked galactose residues. These linkages were also observed in the polysaccharides recovered from the growth medium, showing similarity between the exopolysaccharides and those present in the cell wall. The extracellular polymeric material revealed immunostimulatory effect on B lymphocytes. This opens the possibility of the use of both starch and exopolysaccharides of C. vulgaris as food ingredients.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11