Euglena gracilis, usually considered a “superfood,” is a promising microalga with many well being and dietary advantages. In a latest examine, researchers from Japan discovered an environment friendly and low-resource method to set off a reddening response in E. gracilis utilizing crimson mild and a bonito fish-based tradition medium. This response is a signal of upper and numerous carotenoid content material ratio, which means the proposed methodology may assist flip E. gracilis into an much more nutritious meals supply.
Over the previous few years, individuals have usually turn into extra aware in regards to the meals they eat. Due to simpler entry to info in addition to public well being campaigns and media protection, persons are extra conscious of how diet ties in with each well being advantages and persistent illnesses. In consequence, there may be an ongoing cultural shift in most nations, with individuals prioritizing consuming healthily. In flip, the demand for more healthy meals choices and dietary dietary supplements is steadily rising.
Consistent with these adjustments, Assistant Professor Kyohei Yamashita from Tokyo College of Science (TUS), Japan, has been finding out a promising “superfood” known as Euglena gracilis for over half a decade. A species of edible microalgae, E. gracilis has a wealthy dietary profile, with a novel mixture of nutritional vitamins, fibers, lipids, and proteins. Like most different photosynthetic crops, E. gracilis additionally comprises carotenoids — pure substances with all kinds of well being advantages.
In a examine revealed in 2023, a analysis staff from TUS discovered a easy methodology to effectively develop E. gracilis in a reasonable medium (stable or liquid that comprises vitamins and is used to develop micro organism) primarily based on tomato juice. Now, in a brand new examine, the researchers have explored a promising method to make cultured E. gracilis produce carotenoids at a better charge, rendering it much more nutritious. This examine, which was co-authored by Dr. Kengo Suzuki from Euglena Co., Ltd., in addition to Professor Tatsuya Tomo and Professor Eiji Tokunaga from TUS, was revealed in Quantity 13, Difficulty 4 of the journal Vegetation in February 12, 2024.
The proposed method is sort of easy, and so is its rationale. When a plant is uncovered to high-intensity mild for prolonged durations of time, it undergoes a light-stress response. This, in flip, could cause the organism to supply molecules that shield it from additional mild publicity, together with carotenoids. Primarily based on these info, the researchers investigated whether or not they may induce such a response in E. gracilis to boost its carotenoid content material ratio.
To this finish, the staff ran a sequence of experiments on a number of batches of cultured E. gracilis. They uncovered cultures to mild of various wavelengths (or colours) and at totally different intensities on the lookout for a “reddening response,” which is a tell-tale signal of upper carotenoid manufacturing in lots of plant species. Furthermore, additionally they examined a brand new tradition medium primarily based on bonito inventory, a soup inventory extracted from Katsuobushi, a standard Japanese dish produced from smoked bonito fish.
Curiously, the researchers discovered that sturdy red-light irradiation at 605-660 nm triggered a reddening response in E. gracilis when cultured in bonito inventory. Additionally they seemed on the chemical profiles of the cultures utilizing high-performance liquid chromatography, each on the tradition and single-cell degree. These analyses revealed that reddened cells not solely had a excessive focus of diadinoxanthin, essentially the most ample carotenoid in E. gracilis, but in addition produced an unidentified xanthophyll-type carotenoid. On prime of those, the staff additionally famous that bonito inventory cultures grew faster and reached larger densities than cultures grown on typical media, and sure produced extra varieties or quantities of carotenoids.
Collectively, the outcomes of this examine may pave the way in which for an progressive and simply scalable method for rising nutritious E. gracilis. The strategy’s simplicity is definitely one among its strengths, as Dr. Yamashita remarks, “Our method doesn’t contain genetic modifications and will thus be readily adopted by the meals trade to broaden the usage of E. gracilis, each in meals and as a dietary complement.” Notably, bonito inventory is a nutritious meals and utilizing it within the tradition medium would, due to this fact, present further well being advantages.
Other than its advantages to us people, rising E. gracilis may assist the surroundings. “E. gracilis cultivation, which requires comparatively few assets, generally is a sustainable meals useful resource,” explains Dr. Yamashita. “Our analysis marks an essential step towards the event of latest meals applied sciences that contribute to individuals’s lives from each well being and environmental views.“
With the carotenoid market poised to turn into a multi-billion-dollar trade by 2030, this examine will assist deepen our understanding of carotenoid biosynthetic pathways, hopefully resulting in the event of sustainable practices within the manufacturing of dietary dietary supplements and rising meals.