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Antioxidants
Special Issues
Algal Antioxidants: Physiology, Metabolism, and Evolution
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Algal Antioxidants: Physiology, Metabolism, and Evolution

A special issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 3246

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Shan Lu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Interests: chloroplast; terpenoids; carotenoid; metabolism; chlorophyll
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce this Special Issue, titled "Algal Antioxidants: Physiology, Metabolism, and Evolution", in Antioxidants, focusing on molecular biological, biochemical, and evolutionary biological perspectives. We cordially invite you to contribute to this Special Issue.

As the oldest groups of photosynthetic organisms on Earth, algae have developed complex and efficient antioxidant defense systems that enable them to survive in extreme environments and cope with various oxidative stresses. Recent advances in molecular biology have led to significant progress in understanding algal antioxidant mechanisms. These studies not only deepen our understanding of fundamental biological processes but also provide valuable resources for developing novel antioxidants and bioactive molecules through synthetic biological approaches.

This Special Issue aims to compile the latest research findings on algal antioxidants. We particularly welcome original research in the following areas:

  • Molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks of antioxidant enzyme systems;
  • Physiological and biochemical adaptation mechanisms of algae to oxidative stress;
  • Evolution and diversity of algal antioxidant systems;
  • Environmental factors affecting algal antioxidant capacity;
  • Biosynthetic pathways and genetic engineering of algal antioxidants.

We invite researchers from around the world to submit high-quality original research papers, reviews, and short communications. Your participation will help advance the field of algal antioxidant research and provide new insights into the molecular evolution of algae as the ancient photosynthetic organisms.

Prof. Dr. Shan Lu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Antioxidants is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • algae
  • antioxidant
  • oxidative stresses
  • algal physiology

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2844 KB  
Article
LC-HRMS-Based Metabolomic Profiling and Antioxidant Activity of Sargassum ilicifolium Under Different Pretreatments, Extraction Methods, and Solvents
by Anita Dilla Harfiyani, Riyanti, Muhammad Nursid, Till F. Schäberle, Maria Alexandra Patras, Jae-Suk Choi and Maria Dyah Nur Meinita
Antioxidants 2026, 15(4), 433; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15040433 - 31 Mar 2026
Viewed by 689
Abstract
Sargassum is a widespread brown seaweed species and a source of bioactive compounds with promising antioxidant potential. Unfortunately, to date, the Sargassum species remains largely unexplored. This study was conducted to explore the bioactive compounds from Sargassum ilicifolium extracts collected from Nguyahan and [...] Read more.
Sargassum is a widespread brown seaweed species and a source of bioactive compounds with promising antioxidant potential. Unfortunately, to date, the Sargassum species remains largely unexplored. This study was conducted to explore the bioactive compounds from Sargassum ilicifolium extracts collected from Nguyahan and Sundak Beaches, Gunungkidul, Indonesia, by observing Liquid Chromatography–High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS)-based metabolomics profiling and antioxidant activity assays. Metabolomic analysis detected 506 molecular features across different extraction methods and solvents, with five metabolites putatively dereplicated, including atractylenolide III, pheophorbide A, 13-docosenamide, 1,3,6,8-tetrahydroxy-2-(1-hydroxyhexyl)anthracene-9,10-dione, and 5-hydroxy-6E,8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z-eicosapentaenoic acid. Extraction parameters, particularly solvent polarity and sample pretreatment, have been shown to affect the metabolite variation. Dried samples showed less variation in metabolites than the fresh sample. Antioxidant activity assay showed a moderate to high radical scavenging activity (30–100%), with methanol extracts as a polar solvent inhibited more than semipolar solvents. This study provides a metabolomics-guided assessment of the antioxidant potential of S. ilicifolium, supporting its value and potential as a source of bioactive compounds for future pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Algal Antioxidants: Physiology, Metabolism, and Evolution)
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15 pages, 1401 KB  
Article
Genomic Analysis of Carotenoid and Vitamin E Biosynthetic Pathways in the Extremophilic Red Alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae
by Yuanyuan Hui, Dexin Lyu, Na Huang, Shan Luo, Libao Zheng, Linyuan Zheng, Chuanming Hu, Li-En Yang, Pengfu Li, Shan Lu and Yinyin Deng
Antioxidants 2025, 14(11), 1303; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14111303 - 30 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1076
Abstract
Cyanidioschyzon merolae, an extremophilic unicellular red alga thriving in acidic hot springs at temperatures of 40–56 °C and pH 0.5–4.0, faces extreme oxidative stress conditions. This study presents a comprehensive genomic analysis of the carotenoid and vitamin E biosynthetic pathways, which are [...] Read more.
Cyanidioschyzon merolae, an extremophilic unicellular red alga thriving in acidic hot springs at temperatures of 40–56 °C and pH 0.5–4.0, faces extreme oxidative stress conditions. This study presents a comprehensive genomic analysis of the carotenoid and vitamin E biosynthetic pathways, which are essential for antioxidant defense in this organism. Through comparative genomics using Arabidopsis thaliana sequences as queries, we identified and characterized genes encoding key enzymes involved in their metabolism. Our analysis reveals that C. merolae exclusively utilizes the methylerythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis and lacks a complete mevalonate (MVA) pathway. We identified eleven genes involved in terpenoid metabolism and seven genes specifically for carotenoid biosynthesis. Pigment analysis confirmed a streamlined carotenoid profile consisting solely of β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and zeaxanthin, lacking the entire β,ε-branch and part of the β,β-branch. The complete tocopherol biosynthetic pathway produces exclusively α-tocopherol. The absence of the β,ε-carotenoid branch and the exclusive production of α-tocopherol demonstrate metabolic streamlining while maintaining antioxidant efficacy. These findings provide molecular blueprints for biotechnological applications, enabling targeted strategies to enhance antioxidant production through pathway optimization and metabolic engineering, while offering insights into developing stress-tolerant organisms and enhancing nutritional content in crops. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Algal Antioxidants: Physiology, Metabolism, and Evolution)
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Review

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19 pages, 1753 KB  
Review
Advances in Synthetic Strategies for Microalgal Carotenoid Enhancement and Emerging Applications
by Peipei Xu, Yurong Wang, Chunli Luo, Anqi Xue, Hong Du and Jing Chen
Antioxidants 2026, 15(3), 359; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15030359 - 12 Mar 2026
Viewed by 984
Abstract
Carotenoids are increasingly studied for their robust antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory potential, protective vision and validated contribution to human health. Carotenoids are mainly obtained through chemical synthesis and plant extraction, which results in relatively high costs for producing carotenoids. However, microalgae represent a sustainable [...] Read more.
Carotenoids are increasingly studied for their robust antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory potential, protective vision and validated contribution to human health. Carotenoids are mainly obtained through chemical synthesis and plant extraction, which results in relatively high costs for producing carotenoids. However, microalgae represent a sustainable and high-yield platform for natural carotenoid production, with advantages including rapid growth, high pigment accumulation, and broad environmental adaptability. This review summarizes recent biotechnological advances in enhancing carotenoid production, with a focus on metabolic engineering, environmental regulation, and cultivation strategies. CRISPR/Cas9 enables precision metabolic pathway engineering, while environmental factors like light, nutrients, and stress significantly influence yield. Different cultivation strategies allow carotenoids to fulfill commercial or research needs. The two-stage strategy achieves rapid biomass increase during the growth stage, then shifts to accumulate carotenoids. This regulatory mode significantly reduces cell death by continuous stress, providing high productivity and stability in large-scale production. Carotenoids participate in many innovative applications across various fields, including treatments in medicine, skin protection in cosmetics, protein stabilization in foods, enhancing animals’ survival and so on. Future research will integrate bioprocess optimization, precision strain engineering, and adaptive environmental strategies to scale high-value microalgal carotenoid production as a commercially and environmentally viable solution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Algal Antioxidants: Physiology, Metabolism, and Evolution)
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