title: Manipulation of nitrogen levels and mode of cultivation are viable methods to improve the lipid, fatty acids, phytochemical content, and bioactivities in Chlorella minutissima.
abstract: The effect of nitrogen (N: low = 2% N or moderate = 10% N) levels and cultivation (photoautotrophic or mixotrophic) modes on the biochemicals in Chlorella minutissima was evaluated using a mass culture system. Moderate N and mixotrophic cultures had higher biomass, protein, carbohydrate content and photosynthetic pigments than the low N and photoautotrophic treatments. In contrast, lipid and fatty acid content of the low N and photoautotrophic treatments were higher than in the moderate N and mixotrophic cultures. More phytochemicals were accumulated in moderate N and mixotrophic cultures which corresponded to better antioxidant capacity in the extracts. The most potent (0.7 mg · mL(-1) ) acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity was displayed by moderate N and mixotrophic treatment. Approximately 60% of the extracts exhibited a noteworthy antimicrobial activity regardless of the N levels and cultivation modes. Thus, moderate N level enhanced the phytochemicals and biological activities of C. minutissima cultured under a mixotrophic system.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus, P/Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa.
authors.forename: Adeyemi O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Aremu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of West Hungary, Mosonmagyaróvár, H-9200, Hungary.
authors.forename: Miklós
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neményi
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus, P/Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa.
authors.forename: Wendy A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Stirk
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus, P/Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa.|Institute of Plant Biology, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of West Hungary, Mosonmagyaróvár, H-9200, Hungary.
authors.forename: Vince
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ördög
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus, P/Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Staden
keywords: FAME; antimicrobial; antioxidant; chlorophyll; microalgae; phenolics