Bioprospecting for Algal Based Nutraceuticals and High Value Added Compounds

Currently there is an increased global interest on implication of nutritious diet on health sustainability. On this aspect nutraceuticals have assumed paramount importance based on their presumed safety and potential nutritional and therapeutic value. Microalgae are rich source of bioactive compounds having nutritional and therapeutic value and thus have found commercial applications as natural source of high value compounds. High value bioactive compounds from microalgae include: carotenoids, chlorophyll, polysaccharides, long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, astaxanthin, antioxidants, micro and macronutrients, vitamins including several antimicrobial and antiviral compounds. Besides, some bioactive compounds from microalgae possess significant anti-inflammatory and antitumor activity. Potential of microalgae to produce such therapeutic compounds along with its simple growth requirement make them attractive from biotechnological perspective. Some of the biotechnologically relevant microalgal are Chlorella, Spirulina, Dunaliella, and Haematococcus. Though microalgae are known to human beings since decades, its potential biotechnological value is realized only in recent past. Microalgae still remain largely unexplored and urge for extensive investigation to explore for isolation and development of novel high value molecules. The present review highlights therapeutic and nutritional value of algal based bioactive compounds and also focuses on gaps and opportunities which should be exploited in the near future to evaluate the potential of microalgae as a novel source of health promoting compounds.