The health promoting effects of specific ingredients of micro- and macro-algae, e.g. essential amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and minerals are well known for a long time and are widely used - both as animal feed and as nutritional supplement for humans. Additionally, recent investigations on microalgae revealed substances, which have a protective effect on brain cells and are thus suitable for a preventive or therapeutic application against neurodegeneration.

The main goal of this project is thus to develop a formulated, high-quality food supplement (algae extract) from different algae. This shall be achieved by combining optimal concentrations of nutritive and bioactive compounds from different types of algae (micro- and macroalgae) into one "high-quality" product, with special emphasis on the neuroprotective effects.

The project is carried out in close collaboration with the University of Bremen (Marine Chemistry (Prof. Dr. Tilmann Harder) and Neurobiochemistry (Prof. Dr. Ralf Dringen) and the companies MIAL GmbH (Bad Zwischenahn) and CRM GbR (Kiel).

Project Lead: Joachim Henjes : Corinna Dubischar

Duration: 3 Years;

Partners:University of Bremen, 2 SMEs (MIAL and CRM, both Germany);

Funding:Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)