Biochemical profile of Dunaliella isolates from different regions of Iran with a focus on pharmaceutical and nutraceutical potential applications.

This study was conducted to evaluate three species of Dunaliella microalgae ( Dunaliella salina , Dunaliella viridis , and Dunaliella sp.) indigenous to Iran as new sources of natural chemical and bioactive compounds for exploring pharmaceutical and nutraceutical potential applications. The results showed that the fat, carbohydrate (mono- and di-saccharide), dietary fiber, and protein content of Dunaliella were in the range of 13.19-25.02, 7.59-12.37, 42.10-48.82, and 17.68-22.50 (%), respectively. Dunaliella salina contained a pigment fraction of 11.50%, which was largely composed of carotenoid (7.41%) and chlorophyll (4.09%). Antioxidant capacity and inhibition of 2,2-diphenyl-1-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) of Dunaliella salina were 34.54 mg/1000 g and 55.63%, respectively. The lipid profile also revealed that three isolated Dunaliella are remarkable sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids (25.42%-40.13%). Further, the ratios of ∑n-3/∑n-6 (2.79%), docosahexaenoic acid (6.15%), and eicosapentaenoic acid (11.26%) were the highest in Dunaliella salina . The results, thus, proved that Dunaliella spp., especially Dunaliella salina (IBRC-M 50030), which originates from a lake in Semnan province, Iran, has potential applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries due to its appropriate biopigment, protein, lipid, antioxidant activity, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid.