NATURAL PIGMENTS

Some types of microalgae, besides performing a medicinal dietary function, provide high added value products, such as fatty acids, pigments and stable isotope biochemicals. It is possible to extract these when the concentrations of pure molecules are sufficiently high.

Carotenoids are fat-soluble coloured compounds which can be found in some types of microalgae, as is highlighted in BETA-CAROTENE, a pigment with a wide variety of applications: food colouring agent, pro-vitamin A and deoxidising additive for food and cosmetics; ASTAXANTHIN with its multitude of applications in nutraceutical products, cosmetics, the food and feed industries.  Traditionally used as a salmon, trout and sea bream pigment, there are many other new potential applications related to human health.  And then there is LUTEIN, listed as one of the 10 “healthy” substances recommended by the American FDA, highly beneficial to human health due to its therapeutic properties in the prevention and treatment of degenerative diseases, particularly macular degeneration, cataracts and arteriosclerosis.

After decades of research, the University of Seville–CSIC has developed a way to produce Muriellopsis microalgae which is rich in Lutein and for which ALGAENERGY owns the exclusive patent exploitation rights.