Administration of Dietary Microalgae Ameliorates Intestinal Parameters, Improves Body Weight, and Reduces Thawing Loss of Fillets in Broiler Chickens: A Pilot Study

This pilot investigation aimed at studying the feasibility of using a low dose (0.2%) of dietary microalgae as a means of improving intestinal morphometry, body weight, and selected meat quality parameters in broilers. A total of 72 one-day-old ROSS 308 male chicks were randomly separated into four groups; three experimental pens in which the birds were fed with biomass from Tysochrysis lutea, Tetraselmis chuii, and Porphyridium cruentum over 30 days and a control group. T. chuii and P. cruentum had a positive effect with regard to body weight. In treated animals, duodenal and ileal sections showed characteristic tall and thin villi, with serrated surfaces and goblet cell differentiation. In both sections, values of the villus-height-to-crypt-depth ratio were increased by microalgae ingestion. The thawing weight loss of fillets was reduced in T. chuii-fed animals. The positive effects exerted by T. chuii and P. cruentum on intestinal architecture were associated with the improved body weight. Arguably, these outcomes exhibit the potential of using these species to enhance growth performance in broiler chickens by promoting gut homeostasis and thus nutrient absorption.

Antibacterial Activity of Microalgae Dunaliella salina, Tetraselmis chuii and Isochrysis galbana Against Aquatic Pathogens

Recently, expanded consideration has been paid to the business and potentiality of microalgae. Some microalgae are at present being studied for their capacity to find important metabolites for the drug industry or aquacultural applications. Concerning these biotechnological challenges, there is a consistent exertion accommodated in both finding and taking advantage of new microalgal assets and fostering their putative business results or modern valorizations. The crude methanol extracts of three microalgae, Dunaliella salina, Tetraselmis chuii, and Isochrysis galbana, have been investigated for antibacterial activity using the disk diffusion method against aquatic pathogens of fish, shrimp, and shellfish e.g. Pseudomonas fluorescence and Vibrio harveyi. This research aimed to analyze the antibacterial activity of crude extract of these microalgae against aquatic pathogens. The disk diffusion method was used to investigate the antibacterial activity. The result showed that only T. chuii has the inhibition zone for both tested bacteria P. fluorescence and V. harveyi with the inhibition zone of 3.0 ± 0.6 mm on 100 µg. g–1 of extract concentration and 4.20 ± 1.1 mm against P. fluorescence on 10000 µg. g–1 of extract concentration. While D. salina and I. galbana have inhibition zone only for V. harveyi with the inhibition zone of 4.4 ± 0.6 mm and 3.2 ± 0.7 mm on 10000 µg. g–1 of extract concentration. These three microalgae may have potential use in aquatic pathogens as antimicrobial agents. It would be possible to develop biologically active compounds of microalgae as a functional feed for aquaculture.

Pengaruh mikroplastik polietilen dan oxo-degradable (Oxium) pada pertumbuhan Mikroalga Tetraselmis Chuii

Salah satu cara yang digunakan di Indonesia dalam menanggulangi berlimpahnya jumlah sampah plastik di lingkungan perairan adalah dengan menggantikan kantong plastik berbahan polimer polietilen (PE) dengan plastik oxodegradable yang disebut oxium. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan tujuan untuk melihat pengaruh mikroplastik polietilen jenis HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) dengan plastic oxodegradable oxium. Penelitian dilakukan dengan menggunakan mikroalga Tetraselmis chuii sebagai mikroorganisme yang akan mendapat perlakuan mikroplastik dengan konsentrasi yang berbeda. Dari Hasil pengukuran optical density untuk menentukan laju pertumbuhan mikroalga Tetraselmis Chuii menunjukkan bahwa laju pertumbuhan Tetraselmis dengan perlakuan mikroplastik polietilen mengalami penurunan yang signifikan dibandingkan dengan mikroplastik oxium. Konsentrasi mikroplastik ikut berperan dalam menentukan laju pertumbuhan Tetraselmis chuii di mana pada perlakuan mikroplastik oxium terjadi penurunan hingga 37,66% pada konsentrasi mikroplastik 300mg/500mL dan 81,70% pada perlakuan mikroplastik polietilen dengan konsentrasi 200mg/500mL. Mikroplastik polietilen dan oxium memberikan dampak negatif pada organisme tingkat rendah disebabkan oleh kemampuannya dalam melepas bahan aditif yang bersifat toksik sehingga diperlukan solusi yang lebih baik untuk menggantikan fungsi plastik dengan bahan yang lebih ramah bagi lingkungan hidup. ABSTRACTOne of the methods used in Indonesia in tackling the abundance of plastic waste in the aquatic environment is to replace plastic bags made of polyethylene (PE) polymer with oxodegradable plastic called oxium. This research was conducted with the aim of examining the effect of HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) microplastic polyethylene with oxodegradable oxium plastic. The research was conducted using the microalgae Tetraselmis chuii as microorganisms that will receive microplastic treatment with different concentrations. From the results of optical density measurements to determine the growth rate of Tetraselmis chuii microalgae, it was shown that the growth rate of Tetraselmis with polyethylene microplastics treatment decreased significantly compared to oxium microplastics. The concentration of microplastics played a role in determining the growth rate of Tetraselmis chuii where in the oxium microplastic treatment there was a decrease of up to 37.66% at the microplastic concentration of 300mg/500mL and 81.70% at the polyethylene microplastic treatment with a concentration of 200mg/500mL. Polyethylene and oxyum microplastics have a negative impact on low-level organisms due to their ability to release toxic additives so that better solutions are needed to replace the function of plastics with materials that are more environmentally friendly.

Variability in Macro- and Micronutrients of 15 Commercially Available Microalgae Powders

The nutrient composition of 15 commercially available microalgae powders of Arthrospira platensis, Chlorella pyrenoidosa and vulgaris, Dunaliella salina, Haematococcus pluvialis, Tetraselmis chuii, and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae was analyzed. The Dunaliella salina powders were characterized by a high content of carbohydrates, saturated fatty acids (SFAs), omega-6-polyunsaturated fatty acids (n6-PUFAs), heavy metals, and α-tocopherol, whereas the protein amounts, essential amino acids (EAAs), omega-3-PUFAs (n3-PUFAs), vitamins, and minerals were low. In the powder of Haematococcus pluvialis, ten times higher amounts of carotenoids compared to all other analyzed powders were determined, yet it was low in vitamins D and E, protein, and EAAs, and the n6/n3-PUFAs ratio was comparably high. Vitamin B12, quantified as cobalamin, was below 0.02 mg/100 g dry weight (d.w.) in all studied powders. Based on our analysis, microalgae such as Aphanizomenon and Chlorella may contribute to an adequate intake of critical nutrients such as protein with a high content of EAAs, dietary fibers, n3-PUFAs, Ca, Fe, Mg, and Zn, as well as vitamin D and E. Yet, the nutritional value of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae was slightly decreased by high contents of SFAs. The present data show that microalgae are rich in valuable nutrients, but the macro- and micronutrient profiles differ strongly between and within species.