Algal botanical extracts rich in eicosapentaenoic acid as tri/di-glyceride conjugate

Abstract

Botanical extracts are provided, which comprise ethanol extracts of Nannochloropsis algae having between 1 wt % and 50 wt % polar lipids and between 45 wt % and 60 wt % fatty acids, wherein the fatty acids comprise more than 10 wt % of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) as triglyceride conjugates and/or diglyceride conjugates, and less than 15 wt % EPA as free fatty acids. EPA level may reach up to 90 wt %, and the botanical extract may be fluid at room temperature. Growth conditions are configured, adjusted and monitored to promote EPA formation in the cell vacuoles, resulting in a high proportion of EPA as tri/di-glyceride conjugates, as well as in a high concentration of Ω-3 fatty acids, which merely requires gentle extraction procedures to reach the final products, thereby maintaining the biochemical of the compounds without excessive modifications.

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