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© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

This study investigated the cecal distribution of lipophilic pigments (carotenoids and chlorophylls) from Scenedesmus obliquus and their effects on the activity of the intestinal microbiota in rats. Oleoresins containing different concentrations of microalgal pigments (from 0 to 600 µg·kg−1bw·d1), previously characterized by chromatographic and spectrometric analyses, were administered for four weeks. At the end of the intervention, cecal content samples were collected and analyzed for their pigment composition, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and probiotic microbiota. Nine pigments were identified in the cecal samples, with all-trans-zeaxanthin and pheophytin being the most abundant in all groups. Furthermore, 15-cis-lutein, all-trans-β-cryptoxanthin, and 9-cis-β-carotene—found exclusively in microalgal oleoresin—were detected only in animals receiving doses above 300 µg·kg−1bw.day−1, indicating a link with the SCFA modulation. These supplementations significantly increased the levels of acetate (300 and 450 µg·kg−1bw·d−1 −13% and 14%), butyrate (300 µg kg−1bw·d−1 −19%), and propionate (600 µg·kg−1bw·d−1 −16%). Notably, 300 µg·kg−1bw·d−1 significantly increased Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus populations. Overall, the pigment supplementation positively influenced the gut microbiota composition and SCFA production in a dose-dependent manner, particularly at 300 µg·kg−1bw·d−1. These results support the potential application of microalgal pigments as functional food ingredients or supplements with gut health benefits.

Details

Title
The Cecal Distribution of Microalgal Pigments in Rats: Do Carotenoids and Chlorophylls Play a Pharmacobiotic Role?
Author
Nascimento Tatiele Casagrande do 1 ; Caetano Patrícia Acosta 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; da Silveira Marcylene Vieira 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Lobo, Luiz Eduardo 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Riste Uashington Da Silva 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Costa, Deprá Mariany 1 ; Schetinger Maria Rosa Chitolina 2 ; de Menezes Cristiano Ragagnin 1 ; Wagner, Roger 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Jacob-Lopes, Eduardo 1 ; Zepka Leila Queiroz 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Food Science and Technology Department, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil; [email protected] (T.C.d.N.); [email protected] (P.A.C.); [email protected] (U.D.S.R.); [email protected] (R.W.); 
 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil 
First page
2172
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
23048158
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3229144088
Copyright
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.