Bioactivity of Amphidinol-Containing Extracts of Amphidinium carterae Grown Under Varying Cultivation Conditions

Abstract

Microalgae are of great interest due to their ability to produce valuable compounds, such as pigments, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and antimicrobials. The dinoflagellate genus Amphidinium is particularly notable for its amphidinol-like compounds, which exhibit antibacterial and antifungal properties. This study utilized a two-stage cultivation method to grow Amphidinium carterae CCAP 1102/8 under varying conditions, such as blue LED light, increased salinity, and the addition of sodium carbonate or hydrogen peroxide. After cultivation, the biomass was extracted and fractionated using solid-phase extraction, yielding six fractions per treatment. These fractions were analyzed using Liquid Chromatography—High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS) to identify their chemical components. Key amphidinol compounds (AM-B, AM-C, AM-22, and AM-A) were identified, with AM-B being the most abundant in Fraction 4, followed by AM-C. Fraction 5 also contained a significant amount of AM-C along with an unknown compound. Fraction 4 returned the highest antimicrobial activity against the pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Candida albicans, with Minimal Biocidal Concentrations (MBCs) ranging from 1 to 512 µg/mL. Results indicate that the modulation of both amphidinol profile and fraction bioactivity can be induced by adjusting the cultivation parameters used to grow two-stage batch cultures of A. carterae.