Oleaginous microalgae Nannochloropsis sp. as a potential source of EPA and bioactive metabolites: Bottlenecks in the downstream processing and unravelling the challenges in its food, feed and therapeutic application

Abstract

With the global population surge and the threat of climate change, there is a need for sustainable and economical sources of nutrition. Microalgae are a promising alternative to conventional sources of nutrition due to their high-value metabolites and sustainability. Among the various microalgal species, Nannochloropsis stands out for its significant lipid content (25–45 %), EPA (2–5 %) and vitamin D (∼1 μg g⁻¹) along with metabolites such as proteins, carbohydrates and carotenoids. This comprehensive review explores the characteristic features of Nannochloropsis sp., with a focus on its bioactive content and the enhancement strategies required to improve its nutritional potential. Various pre-treatment approaches have proven to enhance the nutrient accessibility and digestibility in Nannochloropsis sp. Further, the review addresses the bottlenecks in downstream processing and development of novel approaches towards the nutritional and therapeutic applications of Nannochloropsis sp. Therefore, Nannochloropsis supplements can be promoted as novel and vegan source of value-added components in food and feed applications towards a sustainable approach.