Green Extraction and Fermentation Processes for Obtaining Marine Bioactive Products

Dear Colleagues,

Marine biomass such as marine bacteria, marine fungi, and micro and macroalgae has a highly diverse composition. Some of its components are bioactive secondary metabolites produced to adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions of salinity, temperature, nutrients, water content, high irradiation, and UV light. This biomass thus represents a rich and sustainable source of bioactive molecules with huge application potential in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Described health benefits include anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-cancer, and anti-coagulant properties.

However, designing sustainable strategies for recovering bioactive fractions without impairing functionality is still a challenging task. The extraction of bioactive compounds implies the separation from their matrices minimizing the co-extraction of other components while looking for high extraction efficiency. Green extraction technologies have been developed to attain maximum product recovery while reducing toxic residues and diminishing environmental burdens.

In the case of algae, the separation of bioactive compounds is hindered by the complex algae cell wall composed of a network of polysaccharides, proteins, and polyphenols. In food and feed applications, an alternative to extraction is fermentation. Fermentation uses microorganisms to promote the hydrolysis of these complex macromolecules, breaking them down to smaller units and stimulating the release of bioactive molecules. Moreover, during fermentation, other compounds with bioactive properties might be synthesized by the fermenting microorganisms.

This Special Issue is dedicated to discussing relevant aspects of extraction and fermentation technologies, towards sustainable green processes for benefiting of bioactive compounds found in marine biomass, including micro and macroalgae, marine microbes, and marine by-products. Marine animals are excluded. We invite authors to submit review papers, research articles, and short opinion articles.

Dr. M. Teresa Cesário
Dr. Cristina M.R. Rocha
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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