Assessment of Marine Microalgae's Bioactive Extracts Potential for Food Applications

ABSTRACT The growing demand for sustainable and functional food ingredients has driven interest in marine microalgae as a source of bioactive compounds. This study evaluates the bioactivity, safety, and metabolite profile of extracts from Dunaliella salina and Pavlova gyrans , produced through two extraction methods: osmotic shock and bead milling with ethanol. Aqueous extracts were rich in peptides and amino acids, while ethanolic extracts contained higher pigment concentrations, underlining distinct nutritional biochemistry profiles. Both extracts exhibited significant antioxidant activity (4 mg mL − 1 ), with aqueous extracts demonstrating a stronger effect. Cellular antioxidant activity assays using the Caco‐2 cell line confirmed comparable efficacy between extraction methods. Antibacterial tests revealed that D. salina extracts effectively inhibited Listeria innocua , Escherichia coli , and Staphylococcus epidermidis , while P. gyrans extracts showed activity against L. innocua , E. coli , Bacillus cereus , and Pseudomonas fluorescens . Additionally, both microalgae extracts demonstrated functional food potential by inhibiting α‐glucosidase (27%–36%) and angiotensin‐converting enzyme (21.7%–37.9%), suggesting antidiabetic and antihypertensive properties. Cell viability assays confirmed the extracts’ safety for potential food applications. These findings support the sustainable use of D. salina and P. gyrans as innovative bioactive ingredients for functional and eco‐friendly food formulations.