Extraction of Astaxanthin from Haematococcus lacustris and Haematococcus pluvialis with Solvent and Pulsed Electric Field

Astaxanthin (C40H52O4) is a type of keto-carotenoid responsible for the colour of red or pink of different strains of Haematococcus. Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant with a higher activity than other carotenoids and a-tocopherol [1]. Almost every cell in the body, including the eyes, brain, heart, and kidney can benefit from astaxanthin [2]. Recent laboratory studies show that astaxanthin can even rise life span [3]. Under various stress conditions, Haematococcus accumulates up to 5% dry weight (DW) of astaxanthin [4]. In this paper various cultivation and astaxanthin production methods in photoautotrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic growth conditions, both indoors and in open raceway ponds and closed photobioreactors using batch or fed-batch approach have been compared. As well, the cell growth in different media and different ingredients have been observed. Modified Bold’s Basal Medium (BBM) is the best medium used for Haematococcus pluvialis cultivation [5]. For carotenogenesis induction, the stronger exposure to stress conditions, the higher astaxanthin accumulation. The origins of this stress can be diverse and successful astaxanthin accumulation has been induced with both, high levels of one stressor, or from a combination of multiple stress factors. In some cases, if cells are exposed to strong stress, cells growth completely ceases and cells begin to die in a relatively short time [6]. Deficiency of nitrogen and phosphorous [7], excess acetate addition, pH, salt stress [8], Light stress [9] and oleic acid are the methods that have been used. Subsequently, efficient harvesting, cell disruption, dehydration and recovery/extraction of astaxanthin from H. pluvialis biomass are important factors. In this paper different solvents (properly FDA approved) and pulsed electric field (PEF) have been observed.