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Potential of marine microalgae isolated from Adriatic Sea and freshwater microalgae isolated from Gacka as source of PUFAs

In recent years microalgae have attracted considerable attention due to relatively fast growth coupled with high lipid, carbohydrate, protein and valuable nutrients contents. While freshwater microalgae are already used as food supplements, marine microalgae especially diatoms (Bacillariophyceae) have recently attracted considerable attention due to favourable fatty acids (FAs) profile abundant in long polyunsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (EPA, 20:5 n-3, DHA, 22:6 n-3, ARA, 20:4 n-6). They are considered as alternative to fish oil as a source of these essential omega-3 FAs but also as a source of numerous other bioactive molecules of interest such as carotenoids (β-carotene, fucoxanthin and astaxanthin) that also provide wide range of health benefits along with PUFAs. Omega-3 fatty acids are thought to have a role in reducing risk of coronary heart disease and improving cholesterol level. Several strains of microalgae isolated from Adriatic Sea were cultivated under phototrophic conditions and their fatty acid profile was determined and compered to the one obtained with green microalgae isolated from river Gacka. The analysis revealed the predominance of C14:0 (11%-21%) and C16:0 (30%-42%) and C16:1 cis 9 (13%-43%) fatty acids in all marine microalgae strains and polyunsaturated fatty acids 20:5n-3 (EPA) and 20:4n-3 (ARA) comprised a significant proportion of total fatty acid. In freshwater microalgae strains dominant fatty acids were C16:0 (8, 76-29, 44%), C17:0 (3, 57-36, 20%) and unsaturated fatty acids C18:2 cis 9, 12 (6, 48- 35, 27%) and C18:3 cis 9, 12, 15 (8, 82-33, 37%).

marine microalgae, freshwater microaglae, PUFAs, EPA, ARA

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