Scientists have found that chlorella aureus is rich in essential carotenoids

Scientists have found that chlorella aureus is rich in essential carotenoids

Scientists at the kunming institute of botany, part of the Chinese academy of sciences, have discovered a mutated chlorella aureus, which is rich in essential carotenoids, through chemical mutagenesis, xinhua reported in kunming on January 20. The results were published recently in agricultural and food chemistry, a leading journal of food science research.

Carotenoids are one of the most important natural pigments in nature, among which, tetrace-carotene is the main source of animal vitamin A, zeaxanthin and lutein are macular pigment in the retina of the eye. In the main human diet, the three carotenoids are very low in content, which is often difficult to meet the health needs of the body.

Huang junchao, a researcher at the kunming institute of botany, Chinese academy of sciences, has been studying algae and plant carotenoids for more than a decade.

Huang Junchao introduction, chlorella is a kind of single cell edible algae, the team through chemical mutagenesis, screening from 100000 monoclonal algae to one individual plant mutation algae strains, the algae strains because of its containing ketone enzyme gene inactivation, the algal cells to accumulate as much as 7 mg per gram of zeaxanthin 6.34 mg, 13.1 mg lutein and the beta carotene.

One gram of the mutant chlorella strain's dried algae powder contained more than 1,000 times the carotenoid content of corn, enough to meet an adult's daily carotenoid and other nutrient requirements, huang said. "we named this mutant chlorella 'golden chlorella' because of its golden color."

"Chlorella aureus is the only species that has been found to be able to accumulate high levels of carotenoids for all three types of humans and animals at the same time." "He added.

At present, this achievement has been applied for patent. Golden chlorella may play an important role in the big health industry as a new generation of functional food.

From: xinhua net