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广泛的农产品、食品和饲料产品。为了扩大其产品线，该公司有兴趣获得有关蓝藻属物种的知识，蓝藻属是北大西洋本土的一种棕色海藻。海带是一种快速生长的植物，因此被认为是一种可持续的生物质来源。它们含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。这些化合物中有许多具有生物活性，可能有益于植物、动物和人类的健康。Laminarin是一种从Laminaria海藻中提取的复杂分支多糖，已知可刺激植物防御生物和非生物胁迫。关于层流蛋白分析的知识以及它在新斯科舍省的季节变化对于公司开发层流蛋白为基础的产品是必要的。事实上，以往的研究表明，海带中海带蛋白的浓度会因季节、地点和其他非生物因素而变化。为了实现这一目标，本项目提出了三个目标：1)开发、验证和转移层粘胶蛋白提取和分析的方法；2)探讨加拿大大西洋海带海带素含量的季节变化；3)预筛选海带样品中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.