Previous Page  4 / 11 Next Page
Information
Show Menu
Previous Page 4 / 11 Next Page
Page Background

Aquaculture 2018

S e p t e m b e r 2 0 - 2 1 , 2 0 1 8

L i s b o n , P o r t u g a l

Page 22

Journal of

FisheriesSciences.com

ISSN: 1307-234X

E u r o p e a n S u mm i t o n

Aquaculture, Fisheries

and Horticulture

G

lobal demand for macroalgal and microalgal foods is growing, and algae

are increasingly being consumed for functional benefits beyond the

traditional considerations of nutrition. Among the principal algal sources are

red microalgae, which produce unique biochemicals including novel sulfated

polysaccharides (SP) (including dietary fibers), unsaturated fatty acids (EPA,

DHA, AA), natural pigments (phycobilproteins, zeaxanthin), and a variety of

other special chemicals (e.g., floridoside) and minerals. Of particular interest

are the red microalgae

Porphyridium

sp., whose cells are encapsulated within

a SP and extracellular portions are dissolved in the growth medium. Those

SP have unique rheological characteristics and have been shown to act as

a platform for metal incorporation, taking advantage of their ion-exchange

capabilities and their negative charge. The current study motivated by the

ongoing search for novel, bioactive ingredients that are capable of enhancing

and extending the functionality of emulsions investigated the use of SP from

red microalgae as potential stabilizers in food emulsions and the combination

of emulsifying and antibacterial activities of a Zn-PS complex.

Optimization & Characterization of Oil Emulsions:

The properties of emulsions

were characterized based on physical stability, electrokinetic charge and

overall appearance. In addition, the study examined emulsion responsiveness

to sonication and to major environmental stressors (2<pH< 8 and salinity 0-300

mM NaCl).

Antibacterial activities of a Zn-PS complex:

Dairy emulsions and oil-in water

emulsions were stable in low concentrations of a Zn-PS complex (<0.2% and

<500 ppm Zn). This complex was also shown to have higher effect on inhibition

of bacterial growthwhen comparedwith the algal polysaccharide alone. Overall,

the data support the potential of using functional sulfated polysaccharides

from red microalgae to stabilize emulsions and inhibit contamination in food

applications. This information is believed to be of importance for possible

utilization of red microalgal polysaccharides as novel emulsifiers in the

rational design of food emulsions and potentially in other food applications.

These encouraging results indicate that we should pursue the development of

red microalgae as novel functional foods.

Biography

Irit Dvir has completed her PhD at the Ben-Gurion University

of the Negev, Israel in 1999. She is an expert in the study

of algae and its uses in the food industry and as a dietary

supplement. Currently she is a Senior Lecturer and Head of

the Chemistry and Life Sciences program at Sapir Academic

College, Israel. She is a member of the Council of Young Israeli

Entrepreneurs and is always looking for original and innovative

research projects. She has published papers in reputed

international journals. Much of her work is interdisciplinary and

extends beyond red microalgae to include nutrition and food

manufacturing, development of novel functional foods that can

positively impact health and prevent or treat metabolic diseases

such as diabetes and obesity.

iritd@sapir.ac.il

Red microalgae as functional foods: an integrated study

Irit Dvir

1

and S Arad

2

1

Sapir Academic College, Israel

2

Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel

Irit Dvir et al., Journal of

FisheriesSciences.com

Volume:12

DOI: 10.21767/1307-234X-C1-002