ABSTRACT
In recent years, considerable interest has been 44focused on the potential of algae mainly due to the identification of several substances synthesized by these microorganisms. Algae are of great importance, both biologically and economically. Their economic importance is related to the wide range of microalgae applications all over the world, from the food industry to feed, medicine, biofuels, cosmetics, and agriculture. The biodiversity of microalgae and consequent high variability in their biochemical composition, combined with the use of genetic improvement and the establishment of large-scale cultivation technology has allowed certain species to be commercially available. The commercial cultivation of algal species such as Spirulina, Dunaliella, Chlorella and Haematococcus has been established aiming at the production of biomass for both food manufacturing and also for obtaining natural compounds with high added value. In view of this, the current book chapter is focused on health food applications of Spirulina and Chlorella culture, commercial biomass productivities of Spirulina and Chlorella in raceway and photobioreators by various authors, and also biomass producing companies are discussed. Further, bioactive molecules such as proteins, aminoacids, minerals, enzymes, pigments, essential fatty acids, vitamins, polysaccharides, phenolics, sterols, lipids, carbohydrate in both algal species, and their use in food, feed, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industry are discussed. Current market and safety regulations of algal products are provided.
