Enhancement of Biomass and Astaxanthin Production in Haematococcus pluvialis Microalgae

Hagag, Ahmed M.; Ali, Frahat F.; El-Baz, Farouk K.; El‐Hadary, Abdalla; Ali, Sami I.; Murad, Soha A.; Salama, Abeer

doi:10.21608/ejchem.2025.419260.12265

Enhancement of Biomass and Astaxanthin Production in Haematococcus pluvialis Microalgae

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Plant Biochemistry Department, National Research Centre, El Buhouth St., Cairo, 12622, Egypt.

² Faculty of Agriculture, Biochemistry Department, Benha University, Benha 13736, Egypt.

³ Pharmacology Department, National Research Centre, El Buhouth St., Cairo, 12622, Egypt.

10.21608/ejchem.2025.419260.12265

Abstract

Astaxanthin is a xanthophyll carotenoid that has various beneficial applications in the pharmaceutical and food industries. This study aims to improve astaxanthin production in Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae, a leading source of astaxanthin. The effects of different treatments, including nitrogen starvation, calcium chloride, sodium acetate, and melatonin, on the growth, chlorophyll content, and astaxanthin production in H. pluvialis were evaluated. The results showed that nitrogen starvation (0 g of sodium nitrate/L), a high concentration of calcium chloride (0.147 g/L), a high concentration of sodium acetate (1.5 g/L), and a moderate concentration of melatonin (4.65 mg/L) all enhanced astaxanthin production in H. pluvialis. The moderate concentration of melatonin (4.65 mg/L) produced the highest concentration of astaxanthin (10.19±0.02 mg/mL) compared to the other treatments. The applied treatments improved biomass production and increased the levels of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll content in H. pluvialis, with melatonin demonstrating the most significant effects. These findings indicate that astaxanthin production from H. pluvialis was highly increased by melatonin treatment, emphasizing its strong potential for enhancing the industrial production of astaxanthin.

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