Polytechnic University of Leiria

1 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Biology

Valorization of the Red Seaweed Gracilaria gracilis Through a Biorefinery Approach

Alice Martins¹, Filipa R Pinto¹, Sónia Barroso¹, Tatiana Pereira¹, Teresa Mouga¹, Clélia Afonso¹, Marta V Freitas^1,2, Susete Pinteus¹, Rui Pedrosa¹, Maria M Gil¹

¹MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET-Aquatic Research Network, ESTM, Polytechnic University of Leiria, ²MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET-Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra

Here, we describe several protocols aiming at an integrated valorization of Gracilaria gracilis: wild species harvesting, in-house growth, and extraction of bioactive ingredients. The extracts' antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic effects are evaluated, along with the nutritional and stability assessment of food enriched with whole seaweed biomass and pigments.