Porphyridium cruentum: Antioxidants that flourish between tides and light

Authors

Keywords:

P. cruentum, red microalgae, phycoerythrin, natural antioxidants

Abstract

Free radicals represent a constant threat to cellular health, but certain microalgae have evolved to produce compounds capable of counteracting their effects. P. cruentum, a marine microalgae with a vibrant red color, synthesizes natural antioxidants that not only help it survive in extreme environments but also may offer potential health benefits to humans. This microalgae, which can be cultivated under controlled conditions, produces pigments such as chlorophyll a, phycoerythrin and carotenoids, which have proven antioxidant activity. Its bioactive profile makes it a promising candidate for application in the cosmetic, food, and environmental industries. Therefore, this research article aims to present an overview of the antioxidant compounds found in this microalgae, with the intention of increasing interest in their study and possible applications across various fields.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abdala-Díaz, R. T., Pérez-Ruzafa, I. M., Cerezal-Mezquita, P., & Mendiola-Pastrana, I. R. (2014). Evaluación de la actividad antioxidante de polisacáridos producidos por Porphyridium cruentum. Revista de Biología Marina y Oceanografía, 49(2), 197–206. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-19572014000200001

Arias-Durán, M., García-Ruiz, E., & Rodríguez-Romero, J. (2018). El papel de las microalgas en la biorremediación y producción de compuestos bioactivos. Revista Bio Ciencias, 5(2), 103–116. https://doi.org/10.21829/abm123.2018.1253

Casas-Arrojo, V., Decara, J., Arrojo-Agudo, M. Á., Pérez-Manríquez, C., & Abdala-Díaz, R. T. (2021). Immunomodulatory, antioxidant activity and cytotoxic effect of sulfated polysaccharides from Porphyridium cruentum (S.F. Gray) Nägeli. Biomolecules, 11(4), 488. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11040488

iStock (S.F.). Microalgas iStock. https://www.istockphoto.com/es/fotos/microalgas

Li, C., Wu, H., Xiang, W., Wu, H., Wang, N., Wu, J., & Li, T. (2022). Morphology of P. cruentum CCALA-415. Comparison of production and fluorescence characteristics of phycoerythrin from three strains of Porphyridium. Foods, 11(14) https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11142069

López-Elías, J. A., & González-Vega, R. I. (2023). Erythroprotective Potential of Phycobiliproteins Extracted from Porphyridium cruentum. Metabolites, 13(3), 366. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13030366

López-Figueroa, F., & Rueda, A. (2006). Pigmentos fotosintéticos en microalgas: aspectos fisiológicos y metodológicos. Estudios Oceanológicos, 25, 81–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-04622006000200010

López-Santín, J., Camacho, F. G., Cañizares, P., & Molina-Grima, E. (2021). Bioremediation of wastewater using microalgae: Challenges and future perspectives. Science of the Total Environment, 786, 147451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147451

Peña-Medina, R. L., Fimbres-Olivarría, D., Enríquez-Ocaña, L. F., Martínez-Córdova, L. R., Del-Toro-Sánchez, C. L.,

Safafar, H., Haigh, V., Shapaval, V., Koh, H. L., & Grebenshchikov, N. (2022). Lipid and carotenoid production by Porphyridium cruentum under different light intensities. Algal Research, 64, 102705. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2022.102705

Su, Y., Yu, C., Li, Y., Chen, Y., Wang, Y., Lu, L., & Yuan, Z. (2023). Recovery and utilization of Porphyridium cruentum for integrated biorefinery: Lipid, protein, and exopolysaccharide valorization. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 11(3), 1205–1214. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c05869

Tounsi, L., Allagui, M. S., Zourgui, L., & Gargouri-Bouzid, R. (2024). Enhanced growth and metabolite production from a novel strain of Porphyridium cruentum cultivated in optimized media. Marine Drugs, 22(1), 38. https://doi.org/10.1080/21655979.2023.2294160

Velásquez Reyes, D. A., & Arévalo Díaz, A. D. (2014). Producción de microalgas en biorreactores para la obtención de antioxidantes naturales. Proceedings of the 2014 LACCEI International Multi-Conference for Engineering, Education and Technology (Paper RP278). Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions.

Vonshak, A., & Richmond, A. (1988). Mass production of the red alga Porphyridium purpureum: Physiological principles. Hydrobiology, 160(1), 127–132. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01742320

Published

2026-09-24

How to Cite

Rodríguez-Campos , M., & González-Hernández, J. C. (2026). Porphyridium cruentum: Antioxidants that flourish between tides and light. Milenaria, Ciencia Y Arte, (28), 22–24. Retrieved from http://www.milenaria.umich.mx/ojs/index.php/milenaria/article/view/707

Issue

Section

Artículos