Bioprocess potentials of Aurantiochytrium microalgae from Kulonprogo mangrove forest Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Aurantiochytrium sp. is a marine protist that is highly ecologically relevant in the mangrove environment. This species of microalgae has long been known to produce high concentration of Docohexanoic acid (DHA, omega-3, 22:6n-3). DHA has a beneficial role for maintenance of normal brain function, visual acuity as well as prevention of cardiovascular and neurological diseases in humans. Although Indonesia is known to have the largest mangrove forest in the world, unfortunately, research on the isolation, potential observation and use of Aurantiochytrium microalgae has been still rarely published. Therefore, this research aims to promote the importance of research field using microalgae Aurantiochytrium from Indonesian strain for future biochemical production processes. In this work, the samples of targeting microalgae were isolated from Kulonprogo mangrove, Yogyakarta using the direct plating method. The isolation medium contained 50% (v/v) seawater, 1% (w/v) agar, 0.5% (w/v) glucose, 0.1% (w/v) peptone, and 0.1% (w/v) yeast extract, without the addition of streptomycin and penicillin. Morphological characteristics were observed. The observation results confirmed the availability of Aurantiochytrium isolates in prepared medium. Therefore, future isolation of Aurantiochytrium microalgae from other Indonesian mangrove forests can use the direct planting methods presented in this paper. In addition, this paper presented future important applicability of Indonesian Aurantiochytrium strains for uses in strategic industrial sectors, including pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and biofuel companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]