Sara García-Gil

Bio: Sara García-Gil is an academic researcher from University of Seville. The author has contributed to research in topics: Biotechnology & Nutraceutical. The author has co-authored 1 publications.

Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Effects of Microalgal Carotenoids.

Abstract: Acute inflammation is a key component of the immune system’s response to pathogens, toxic agents, or tissue injury, involving the stimulation of defense mechanisms aimed to removing pathogenic factors and restoring tissue homeostasis. However, uncontrolled acute inflammatory response may lead to chronic inflammation, which is involved in the development of many diseases, including cancer. Nowadays, the need to find new potential therapeutic compounds has raised the worldwide scientific interest to study the marine environment. Specifically, microalgae are considered rich sources of bioactive molecules, such as carotenoids, which are natural isoprenoid pigments with important beneficial effects for health due to their biological activities. Carotenoids are essential nutrients for mammals, but they are unable to synthesize them; instead, a dietary intake of these compounds is required. Carotenoids are classified as carotenes (hydrocarbon carotenoids), such as α- and β-carotene, and xanthophylls (oxygenate derivatives) including zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, fucoxanthin, lutein, α- and β-cryptoxanthin, and canthaxanthin. This review summarizes the present up-to-date knowledge of the anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of microalgal carotenoids both in vitro and in vivo, as well as the latest status of human studies for their potential use in prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer.

Microalgal bioactive components as antiinflammatory and antioxidant agents for health promotion

Abstract: The increasing knowledge on inflammation process has let to develop strategies to prevent or palliate an uncontrolled immune response, which is characteristic of many diseases with an inflammatory component. Nutrition plays a pivotal role in physiological responses and has been shown to modulate the immune system. In this context, functional foods and nutraceuticals that claim healthy benefits upon ingestion has emerged in the last decades. Within this sector, microalgae are a renewable resource that bring us benefits and advances due to their basic and cheap requirements and the capacity to modulate their metabolism. In this regard, a higher diversity of molecules from microalgae can be found in comparison with terrestrial vegetables, which have been used as a source of bioactive compounds. In this way, the scientific community is currently working to use microalgae as an alternative source of these kind of components, including antioxidant and antiinflammatory agents, which may be used on a large scale by food, nutraceutical, or pharmacological industries to health promotion. The main microalgal constituents are polyunsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins, among others, which are being included in the dietary formulations in order to take advantage of their declared bioactivities. In this chapter, a summary of the main components of microalgae, their bioactivities, and applications is described.

Green diatom mutants reveal an intricate biosynthetic pathway of fucoxanthin

Abstract: Significance The carotenoid fucoxanthin gives diatoms, haptophytes, and kelps (brown algae) their distinct brown color by extending the spectral range of photosynthetic light harvesting. Despite the global abundance and pharmaceutical potential of fucoxanthin, its biosynthetic pathway has been elusive. We have identified key enzymes and previously unknown intermediates in the fucoxanthin biosynthetic pathway, enabling us to propose the complete pathway in diatoms and haptophytes. It is much more intricate than previously speculated and evolved by duplications of genes originally involved in the formation of photoprotective carotenoids. This evolutionary trajectory is further manifested by our observation that the intermediate diadinoxanthin serves two purposes: diatoxanthin biosynthesis for protective energy dissipation under excessive light and fucoxanthin biosynthesis for light harvesting under limiting light.

Fucoxanthin: A Promising Phytochemical on Diverse Pharmacological Targets

Abstract: Fucoxanthin (FX) is a special carotenoid having an allenic bond in its structure. FX is extracted from a variety of algae and edible seaweeds. It has been proved to contain numerous health benefits and preventive effects against diseases like diabetes, obesity, liver cirrhosis, malignant cancer, etc. Thus, FX can be used as a potent source of both pharmacological and nutritional ingredient to prevent infectious diseases. In this review, we gathered the information regarding the current findings on antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, skin protective, anti-obesity, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and other properties of FX including its bioavailability and stability characteristics. This review aims to assist further biochemical studies in order to develop further pharmaceutical assets and nutritional products in combination with FX and its various metabolites.

Global seaweed farming and processing in the past 20 years

Abstract: Abstract Seaweed has emerged as one of the most promising resources due to its remarkable adaptability, short development period, and resource sustainability. It is an effective breakthrough to alleviate future resource crises. Algal resources have reached a high stage of growth in the past years due to the increased output and demand for seaweed worldwide. Several aspects global seaweed farming production and processing over the last 20 years are reviewed, such as the latest situation and approaches of seaweed farming. Research progress and production trend of various seaweed application are discussed. Besides, the challenges faced by seaweed farming and processing are also analyzed, and the related countermeasures are proposed, which can provide advice for seaweed farming and processing. The primary products, extraction and application, or waste utilization of seaweed would bring greater benefits with the continuous development and improvement of applications in various fields. Graphical Abstract

Natural Substrates and Culture Conditions to Produce Pigments from Potential Microbes in Submerged Fermentation

Abstract: Pigments from bacteria, fungi, yeast, cyanobacteria, and microalgae have been gaining more demand in the food, leather, and textile industries due to their natural origin and effective bioactive functions. Mass production of microbial pigments using inexpensive and ecofriendly agro-industrial residues is gaining more demand in the current research due to their low cost, natural origin, waste utilization, and high pigment stimulating characteristics. A wide range of natural substrates has been employed in submerged fermentation as carbon and nitrogen sources to enhance the pigment production from these microorganisms to obtain the required quantity of pigments. Submerged fermentation is proven to yield more pigment when added with agro-waste residues. Hence, in this review, aspects of potential pigmented microbes such as diversity, natural substrates that stimulate more pigment production from bacteria, fungi, yeast, and a few microalgae under submerged culture conditions, pigment identification, and ecological functions are detailed for the benefit of industrial personnel, researchers, and other entrepreneurs to explore pigmented microbes for multifaceted applications. In addition, some important aspects of microbial pigments are covered herein to disseminate the knowledge.

Carotenoids in Human Skin In Vivo: Antioxidant and Photo-Protectant Role against External and Internal Stressors

Abstract: The antioxidant system of the human body plays a crucial role in maintaining redox homeostasis and has an important protective function. Carotenoids have pronounced antioxidant properties in the neutralization of free radicals. In human skin, carotenoids have a high concentration in the stratum corneum (SC)—the horny outermost layer of the epidermis, where they accumulate within lipid lamellae. Resonance Raman spectroscopy and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy are optical methods that are used to non-invasively determine the carotenoid concentration in the human SC in vivo. It was shown by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy that carotenoids support the entire antioxidant status of the human SC in vivo by neutralizing free radicals and thus, counteracting the development of oxidative stress. This review is devoted to assembling the kinetics of the carotenoids in the human SC in vivo using non-invasive optical and spectroscopic methods. Factors contributing to the changes of the carotenoid concentration in the human SC and their influence on the antioxidant status of the SC in vivo are summarized. The effect of chemotherapy on the carotenoid concentration of the SC in cancer patients is presented. A potential antioxidant-based pathomechanism of chemotherapy-induced hand-foot syndrome and a method to reduce its frequency and severity are discussed.