1. Introduction
• The global carotenoid market was $1.5 billion in 2014 and is scheduled to
reach $1.8 billion by 2019
• The astaxanthin market in 2014 was valued at $369 million (25 % of the total
carotenoid market)
• Natural astaxanthin from H. pluvialis has 20-50 x higher antioxidant potential
than its synthetically synthesized analogue and has a commercial premium
with a retail price for nutraceutical-grade astaxanthin of up to $100,000/kg
• Industrially astaxanthin from H. pluvialis is produced in a two stage process;
growth in the green stage followed by pigment production in the red stage
under high light and nutrient limitation
• Currently large-scale production from H. pluvialis is constrained by:
Contamination issues - Paraphysoderma sedebokerensis, a chytrid
infecting cysts of the alga
Low growth and biomass densities
Die off in the transitional phase (photobleaching)
Necessity for extraction from thick walled cysts to make astaxanthin
bioavailable
Requirement for high light levels to stimulate astaxanthin formation limiting
stressing to outdoor systems
Expensive manufacturing process
(Olaizola and Huntley, 2003; Hoffman et al., 2008; Li et al., 2011; Capelli et al., 2013; Wang et al., 2014; BCC
Research, 2015)
Materials and methods
Haematococcus pluvialis SAG 34/1d was cultured for 10 d in the green stage on
three different media; 3N-BBM+V, m3N-BBM+V (modified with a third of the
nitrate and double the phosphate) and a hydroponics medium FM:FB.
After 10 d the culture was harvested and re-suspended at 1 x 105 cells/ml in low
nutrient medium with controlled light intensity and temperature for astaxanthin
production in the red motile macrozooid form, rather than the conventional
encysted form.
Astaxanthin and fatty acid analysis was conducted after 12 d in the red stage.
Thomas O. Butler1, Michele S. Stanley2 and John G. Day2
SCOTTISH ASSOCIATION FOR MARINE SCIENCE
SCOTTISH MARINE INSTITUTE
OBAN, ARGYLL
PA37 1QA SCOTLAND
An alternative strategy for astaxanthin
production from Haematococcus pluvialis
Employing a modified medium formulation H. pluvialis cell yields in the green stage were increased
by 34 %
T: (+44) (0)1631 559268
F: (+44) (0)1631 559001
E: ccap@sams.ac.uk
W: http://www.ccap.ac.uk
Results
Fig. 4. An alternative strategy for astaxanthin production from H. pluvialis
Fig. 1. Growth of H. pluvialis (green stage) in different media
1University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), Oban, PA37 1QA, UK
2Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban, PA37 1QA, UK
Fig. 3. Fatty acid profile of H. pluvialis initially grown
in m3N-BBM+V in the green stage followed by low-
nutrient conditions in the red stage
0
10
20
30
40
0 3 6 9 12
Meancellcount(104cells/ml)
Day
3N-BBM+V
3N-BBM+V (mod)
FM:FB
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 2 4 6 8 10
Meancellcount(104cells/ml)
Day
3N-BBM+V
3N-BBM+V (mod)
FM:FB
Green stage - Culturing under low light for 10 days
Red stage - Culturing under unfavourable conditions for 12 days
Dewater
Spray drying Feed for aquaculture sector
Product for nutraceutical
market, synergistic blend
Green stage
Red stage
Fig. 2. Growth of H. pluvialis (red stage) on transfer to unfavourable conditions
21.3
19.8
28.3
12.0
14:0
16:0
18:1(n-9)
18:1(n-7)
16:3(n-3)
16:4(n-3)
18:2(n-6)
18:3(n-3)
18:4(n-3)
Other SFA
Other UFA
Unknown FA
Discussion & Conclusions
Initially culturing H. pluvialis in m3N-BBM+V in the green stage and then
transferring to unfavourable conditions in the red stage yielded red motile
macrozooids rather than thick-walled cysts that constitutes the major component
of the current production processes.
Employing the prototype production process developed, the red motile
macrozooids obtained contained ~1.5 % astaxanthin on the basis of their dry wt.
Furthermore, the biomass produced was high in unsaturated fats (75 % of fatty
acid composition) with high levels of linoleic and oleic acid (28 and 20 % of total
fatty acids respectively. In addition, the cells lack the thick cell wall of the cysts,
thus enhancing the bioavailablity of the astaxanthin. We envisage that the cells
could be directly formulated into aquaculture feeds, or spray-dried and sold as a
product for inclusion into nutraceutical products with a synergistic blend of
carotenoids and unsaturated fatty acids.
Key improvements over the conventional astaxanthin production process:
 Astaxanthin is more bioavailable
 Paraphysoderma sedebokerensis does not infect motile macrozooids
(Hoffman et al., 2008)
 Photobleaching was not observed
1.5 % astaxanthin DW
Literature cited
BCC Research. 2015, Available from: http://www.bccresearch.com. [Accessed: 6th June 2015].
Capelli et al. 2013, Nutrafoods, 12(4), 145-152.
Hoffman et al. 2008, Mycological research, vol. 112, no. 1, pp. 70-81.
Li et al. 2011, Biotechnology Advances, vol. 29, no. 6, pp. 568-574.
Olaizola, M., & Huntley, M. E. 2003, Biomaterials and Bioprocessing (Fingerman, M. and Nagabhushanam, R., eds.) Science Publishers
Poirier Sales & Service, 2015, Available from: http://www.poirierappliance.com/lime-butter-sauce-with-salmon. [Accessed: 1st July 2015].
Wang et al. 2014, PLoS One, vol. 9, no. 9, pp. e106679.