Optimization of phycobiliprotein pigments extraction from red algae Gracilaria gracilis for substitution of synthetic food colorants

The extraction of phycobiliprotein (PBP) pigments from red algae Gracilaria gracilis was optimized using maceration, ultrasound-assisted extraction (ultrasonic water bath and ultrasonic probe), high pressure-assisted extraction, and freeze-thaw. The experimental conditions, namely homogenization time (t1), buffer concentration (C), treatment time (t2), biomass: buffer ratio (R), and pressure (P), were optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The yield of phycoerythrin (PE) extracted, determined spectroscopically, was used as the response variable. Maceration was the most efficient extraction method yielding 3.6 mg PE/g biomass under the optimal conditions (t1 = t2 = 10 min; C = 0.1 M; R = 1:50). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis of the biomass before and after the cell disruption treatments revealed a more efficient cell wall rupture with maceration.

Description

Acknowledgments The authors thank FCT, Portugal, for financial support (UID/MAR/ 04292/2019, UID/Multi/04044/2019, UID/QUI/00062/2019, ROTEIRO/0328/2013-no 022158, and UIDB/50006/2020 (LAQVREQUIMTE & QOPNA research units, through national funds and, where applicable, co-financed by FEDER, within the PT2020 Pertnership Agreement)). This work was also supported by projects SmartBioR (CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000018, Integrated Programme SR&TD co-funded by Centro 2020 program, Portugal 2020, European Union, through the European Regional Development Fund), MATIS (CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000014, European Union through PT2020 and Centro2020), and SeaWeedFeeds (16-02-01-FMP-84, Operational Programme MAR2020).

Keywords

Natural pigments Phycobiliproteins Gracilaria gracilis Response surface methodology Extraction optimization

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.8/5091

Citation

Pereira, T., Barroso, S., Mendes, S., Amaral, R. A., Dias, J. R., Baptista, T., Saraiva, J. A., Alves, N. M., & Gil, M. M. (2020). Optimization of phycobiliprotein pigments extraction from red algae Gracilaria gracilis for substitution of synthetic food colorants. Food chemistry, 321, 126688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.126688