ABSTRACT
The halophilic microalgae Dunaliella salina is among the richest and most abundant natural source of β-carotene. This isoprenoid carotenoid is the most abundant precursor of vitamin A in human and animal systems. Dunaliella and other carotenoids have gained scientific, biotechnological and commercial recognition in world markets, mainly for their uses in food, animal feed, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical formulations. The growing preference for natural sources of carotenoids, as opposed to their synthetic substitutes, has encouraged demand for algae and specifically D. salina and D. bardawil. The recent approval of carotenoids from these algae as safe natural color by food and drugs authorities have positioned the alga and its constituent- β-carotene as an important and sought-after ingredient in health food formulations for humans and also in animal feed.
