Valuable Compounds Produced by Microalgae

Microalgae are photosynthetic unicellular organisms that live in almost all environments on earth. They occur as a single-celled or colonial form in chain and filaments. In nature, they are important sink and source of carbon, supporting the food chain in all ecosystems in the world. They are also an important component to balance the nutrient cycle particularly in aquatic ecosystems. Microalgae are taxonomically classified based on their structural morphology, nutritional requirements, motility, biochemistry composition, etc. Despite the use of microalgae in biofuel production, microalgae are widely cultivated on a commercial scale in recent years due to their rich content of natural bioactive compounds including polysaccharides, lipids, pigments, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These microalgal bioactive compounds are widely applied in various industries, ranging from human and animal food, cosmeceutical, pharmaceutical to other bio-based products. The biological functions and the application of the high commercial value products sourced from microalgae were discussed in this chapter.