Extraction and valorization of high-value phytochemicals from Nova Scotia seaweeds

该行业合作伙伴将海藻收获并加工成一系列用于农业、食品和饲料的产品。为了扩大其产品线，该公司有兴趣获得有关海带属物种的知识，海带是一种原产于北大西洋的棕色海藻。海带是生长迅速的植物，因此被认为是可持续的生物量来源。它们具有丰富的植物化学成分，其中包括多糖、单宁和多不饱和脂肪酸。其中许多化合物具有生物活性，可能有益于植物、动物和人类的健康。海带多糖是从海带中提取的一种复杂的分枝多糖，已知能刺激植物抵御生物和非生物胁迫。了解海带多糖分析及其在新斯科舍省的季节性变化对于该公司开发以海带为基础的产品是必要的。事实上，以前的研究表明，海带中的海带蛋白浓度随着季节、地点和其他非生物因素的不同而变化。为了实现这一目标，本项目提出了三个目标：1)开发、验证和转移一种海带多糖的提取和分析方法；2)探索海带中海带多糖含量的季节变化。来自大西洋加拿大；3)对海带样本进行预筛选，以寻找其他感兴趣的植物化学物质。

The industry partner harvests and processes seaweed into a broad range of products for agricutlrue, food and feed. In order to expand its product line, the company is interested in gaining knowledge on species from the genus Laminaria, a groupe of brown seaweed indigenous to Northern Atlantic. Laminaria are fast growing plants and are thus considered a sustainable source of biomass. They have a rich phytochemical composition that includes, among others, polysaccharides, tannins, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Many of these compounds have bioactive properties that may benefit plant, animal and human health. Laminarin, a complex branched polysaccharide extracted from Laminaria seaweed, is known to stimulate plant defence agains biotic and abiotic stresses. Knowledge regarding laminarin analysis as well as its seasonal variation in Nova Scotia is necessary for the company to develop laminaria-based products. Indeed, previous studies have shown that laminarin concentration in Laminaria varies according to season, site and other abiotic factors. To achieve this goal, this project proposes three objectives: 1) Develop, validate and transfert a method for laminarin extraction and analysis; 2) Explore the seasonal variation of laminarin content in Laminaria spp. from Atlantic Canada; 3) Pre-screen Laminaria samples for other phytochemicals of interest.