Phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of <i>Pediastrum boryanum</i> (Chlorococcales) biomass

Abstract

Bioactive compounds, synthesized by photosynthetic microorganisms, have drawn the attention of the pharmaceutical field. This study aimed at evaluating synthesis and <i>in vitro</i> antioxidant capacity of phenolic compounds produced by a microalgae species <i>P. boryanum</i>, which was grown in six different culture media (standard BG11, modified BG11/MBG11, standard WC, modified WC, WC*2 and basal). The highest concentrations of biomass (1.75 ± 0.01 g.L^-1) and phenolic content (3.18 ± 0.00 mg.g^-1) were obtained when <i>P. boryanum</i> was grown in MBG11 and phenolic acids were identified: gallic, protocatechuic, chlorogenic, hydroxybenzoic and vanillic ones. All extracts exhibited scavenger activity in the ABTS assay and inhibited peroxidase. However, phenolic compounds from <i>P. boryanum</i> grown in BG11 and MBG11 had the most potent scavenger activity in the DPPH assay. In sum, <i>P. boryanum</i> can be a new source of free phenolic compounds with potential antioxidant activity when grown in MBG11, since it yields high amounts of biomass and phenolic compounds.