Potential and Challenges of Microalgae Peptides-An Overview

Microalgae technology has made significant advances in recent decades. Initially, Microalgae attracted the interest and attention of the scientific community as a renewable resource for biofuels. Besides, it also has the potential to accumulate lipids and biomass significantly in a short period. Recent studies have shown that microalgae's bioactive peptide could be well-suited with great potential in human nutritional support. Therefore, a bioactive peptide derived from various strains of microalgae could be a potentially significant source for developing novel nutraceuticals and functional foods that can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and arteriosclerosis. The bioactive peptide has also been used in anti-wrinkle and anti-aging skincare products, where it serves to stimulate the creation of proteins in the skin. Although some microalgae have reported antimicrobial and antivirus peptides, the understanding of peptides with these properties is still unclear and not described. Interest in microalgae-derived peptides is overgrowing. This review highlights and discusses the cutting-edge features of their research and applications to develop new therapeutic drugs, cosmetics, and other valuable products. It is also exploring the technology for microalgae peptide extraction and purification.