Comparison of Different Methods for Extracting the Astaxanthin from <i>Haematococcus pluvialis</i>: Chemical Composition and Biological Activity

• Main Authors: Yicheng Tan, Zhang Ye, Mansheng Wang, Muhammad Faisal Manzoor, Rana Muhammad Aadil, Xinghe Tan, Zhiwei Liu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: Molecules
• Subjects: <i>Heamatococcus pluvialis</i>; astaxanthin; cell disruption techniques; antioxidant activities; anti-proliferative ability
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/12/3569

In this study, the impact of different cell disruption techniques (high-pressure micro fluidization (HPMF), ionic liquids (ILs), multi-enzyme (ME), and hydrochloric acid (HCl)) on the chemical composition and biological activity of astaxanthin (AST) obtained from <i>Haematococcus pluvialis</i> was investigated. Results indicated that all cell disruption techniques had a significant effect on AST composition, which were confirmed by TLC and UPC² analysis. AST recovery from HCl (HCl-AST) and ILs (ILs-AST) cell disruption techniques was dominant by free and monoesters AST, while AST recovery from HPMF (HPMF-AST) and ME (ME-AST) cell disruption techniques was composed of monoesters, diesters, and free AST. Further biological activity analysis displayed that HCl-AST showed the highest ABTS and DPPH activity, while ILs-AST showed better results against the ORAC assay. Additionally, ILs-AST exhibits a stronger anti-proliferation of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was ascribed to AST-induced ROS in to inhibit the proliferative of cancer cells.