Abstract

Microalgal species have been used as a food source and as medicine since ancient times in Africa, Mexico and China. In our study we focused on the whole cell extracts of three microalgal species that have not been studied before: the diatom Nitzschia navis-varingica, the haptophyte Chrysochromulina alifera and the dinoflagellate Heterocapsa pygmaea.Effects of the diatom Nitzschia navis-varingica, the haptophyte Chrysochromulina alifera and the dinoflagellate Heterocapsa pygmaea on mammalian macrophage cells were investigated first time in this study.A significant anti-inflammatory impact of cell extracts in distilled water was observed.Direct antiinflammatory influence of the extracts without any solvents or further processes facilitates its usage in biotechnology. Furthermore, the ability to include these species in the human diet brings out new opportunities in terms of increasing the tolerance to certain allergic food products in patients with allergic reactions as well as inflammatory bowel disease. Moreover, these species can be used in the creams for the atopic applications on the skin to prevent skin allergies. With this study, we are presenting data supporting the biotechnological potential of the diatom Nitzschia navisvaringica, the haptophyte Chrysochromulina alifera and the dinoflagellate Heterocapsa pygmaea species against inflammatory and allergic reactions.