ArticleBMC biotechnology2026
Microalgal extracts optimize lettuce quality through extraction-method-dependent modulation of primary and secondary metabolism.
Article in BMC biotechnology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMicroalgal extracts are rich in bioactive molecules capable of modulating crop quality and stress resilience. This study investigated the effects of crude and formulated extracts based on three extraction methods—acidic, alkaline, and enzymatic—from Nannochloropsis gaditana and Arthrospira maxima on the nutritional quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), focusing on primary and secondary metabolism.
resultsThe extraction method significantly influenced the biochemical composition of the extracts. Alkaline extraction maximized protein yield (32.4% and 19.6% for N. gaditana and A. maxima, respectively), while enzymatic extraction enriched carbohydrate content (8.1–10.8%). Treatment with A. maxima enzymatic extracts significantly improved shoot (35.3%) and root (54.6%) biomass. Metabolomic analysis revealed species-specific metabolic reprogramming directly linked to nutritional quality. A. maxima functioned as a direct nutritional fortifier, significantly upregulating essential polyunsaturated fatty acids, including α-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid) by 47.2% and inducing the de novo accumulation of linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid) at 10.99 µg.g⁻¹ FW. Crucially, A. maxima treatment uniquely induced the accumulation of γ-sitosterol at 10.07 µg.g⁻¹ FW, a phytosterol with documented cholesterol-lowering properties. This enhanced lipid and sterol profile was accompanied by a 31% increase in protein concentration and correlated with enhanced photosynthetic pigment content (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids). Conversely, N. gaditana induced a stress-adaptation profile, characterized by the accumulation of very-long-chain alkenes and alcohols, such as Nonacos-1-ene (5.84 µg.g⁻¹ FW) and 1-Pentacontanol (4.76 µg.g⁻¹ FW), associated with cuticular wax formation. This defensive shift occurred alongside a significant reduction in total sugars (-68%) and growth parameters, indicating a resource reallocation from growth and nutritional metabolism to structural defense.
conclusionOur findings demonstrate that microalgal biostimulants optimize lettuce quality through extraction-method-dependent modulation of primary and secondary metabolism, with A. maxima enzymatic extracts showing the highest potential. This work provides a foundation for designing tailored algal biostimulants to address specific agronomic needs in sustainable horticulture.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.