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- Microalgae and cyanobacteria as natural sources of antioxidant enzymes and enzyme inhibitors for Alzheimer's and diabetesPublication . Odenthal, Kilian; Nunes, Emmanuel; Nunes, Nuno; Fernandes, Tomásia; Fernandes, Igor A.; Carvalho, Miguel A. A. Pinheiro de; Nunes, Nuno; Fernandes, Tomásia; Almeida Pinheiro de Carvalho, Miguel AngeloMicroalgae and cyanobacteria biomass can be cultivated in large amounts, producing a variety of bioactive compounds. As a result, various industries have begun to study the potential of this biomass in a wide range of applications such as biofuel production, environmental remediation for contaminated soil and water, food supplements, and as a source of feed for aquaculture. The cultivation conditions have a profound impact on microalgae biochemical composition. Therefore, the culture conditions must be tailored to the specific appli cation of the biomass. This entails careful control of factors such as light exposure, nutrient concentration, and the application of stress conditions. To further enhance the value of microalgae biomass beyond its nutritional analysis, this review aims to explore the potential of the biomass as biofactories for producing antioxidant en zymes and inhibitors targeting Alzheimer's and diabetes diseases. Both chronic diseases are a growing concern due to an aging population and an increase in obesity rates. Microalgae when exposed to stressful conditions enhance the activity of antioxidant enzymes. However, further studies in the isolation and storage of these en zymes need to be performed. From the literature reviewed microalgae exhibited great potential in inhibiting key enzymes involved in Alzheimer's and Diabetes. The inhibitory potential was observed both in vitro and at a cellular level making them a promising natural alternative to current medication used to inhibit these enzymes.
- Protein extracts from microalgae and cyanobacteria biomass. Techno-functional properties and bioactivity: a reviewPublication . Nunes, Emmanuel; Odenthal, Kilian; Nunes, Nuno; Fernandes, Tomásia; Fernandes, Igor A.; Carvalho, Miguel A. A. Pinheiro de; Nunes, Nuno; Fernandes, TomásiaMicroalgae and cyanobacteria are photosynthetic and unicellular organisms that contain considerable amounts of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, among others, with applications in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industries. These microorganisms can accumulate protein up to 70 % of total biomass depending on the microalgal strain, hence they have been regarded as an alternative protein source for the future. Microalgal proteins have important applications such as emulsifying, foaming, and gelation prop erties, which are important for the determination of quality and texture of foods. Some microalgal peptides possess important bioactivity with many health-benefit effects. Therefore, to maximize the production of proteins from microalgae and cyanobacteria, many protein extraction procedures have been studied to increase the economic return. They have been tested towards higher protein yields at low energy cost, the preservation of protein native properties, and lower cell debris. This later is fundamental to facilitate the subsequent purification processes so that the overall cost can be reduced. The aim of this work is to review some cell disruption processes for the extraction of protein from microalgae and cyanobacteria, considering that this step is crucial for the overall process due to the high rigidness of microalgal cell covering, which can hamper the release of proteins. It also aims at reviewing the purification techniques after cellular disruption, from conventional to more recent approaches, and finally addresses the antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antibacterial and other bioactive properties of microalgal protein hydrolysates and peptides.