Microbial production of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

Abstract Microorganisms offers sustainable alternative to fishes for the production of omega-3 fatty acids. Impact of omega-3 fatty acids on health benefits has been well documented. Omega-3 fatty acids improve the human health as it is essential for development of eye, brains in infants as well as play a vital role in prevention-cum-control of several cancer, coronary heart disease, hypertension, depression, type-2 diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, and thrombosis. Microalgae can grow by autotrophic and heterotrophic mode. However, bioprospecting of heterotrophic microorganism for omega-3 fatty acids production is preferred due to ease of fermentation media optimization and higher yield. The chapter aims to provide a comprehensive review on various methods of lipid extraction from microalgae available with respect to omega-3 fatty acid production. All areas of lipid extraction methodologies including solvent extraction procedures, mechanical approaches, and solvent-free procedures apart from some of the latest extraction technologies is discussed. Recent advances made in the bioprocessing of oleaginous microalgae to omega-3 fatty acid production is critically discussed.