Evaluation of different cell disruption processes on encysted cells of Haematococcus pluvialis: effects on astaxanthin recovery and implications for bio-availability
Mm. Mendes-pinto et al., Evaluation of different cell disruption processes on encysted cells of Haematococcus pluvialis: effects on astaxanthin recovery and implications for bio-availability, J APPL PHYC, 13(1), 2001, pp. 19-24
Although Haematococcus pluvialis is one of the most important natural sourc
es of the carotenoid astaxanthin as a pigmentor for the aquaculture industr
y, the thick sporopollenin cell wall in the cysts hinders astaxanthin extra
ction and its subsequent bio-availability to fish. A range of physical and
chemical processes were tested to promote the disruption of the encysted ce
lls. The efficacy of these processes was evaluated in terms of astaxanthin
recovery, which was assessed by determining the extent of leaching of astax
anthin into an organic solvent. The processes tested were: autoclave 30 min
, 121 degreesC, 1 atm; HCl 0.1 M, 15 min and 30 min; NaOH 0.1 M, 15 min and
30 min; enzymatic treatment with a mixture of 0.1% protease K and 0.5% dri
selase in a phosphate buffer, pH 5.8, 30 degreesC, for one hour; spray dryi
ng, inlet 180 degreesC, outlet 115 degreesC; and mechanical disruption, wit
h a cell homogeniser developed for this purpose. The mechanical (homogenisa
tion) and autoclave treatments were the most effective in terms of extracti
on and availability.