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Research Article
Volume 1, Article ID: 2025.0009
Oscar Wamba Fotsop
sfotsop@yahoo.fr
Pierre Fils Rodrigue Magwell
pierre.magwell@irad.cm
Carlos Loubadoum
loubadoumngaryom@gmail.com
Kennedy Tchoffo Djoudjeu
kennedytchoffo@gmail.com
Pascaline Laure Nyabeu Ngnikeu
pascalinelaurenyabeu@gmail.com
Belise Gladyce Nangueu
nangueubelise@gmail.com
Claude Simo
simoclaude236@gmail.com
Emile Minyaka
minyakae@yahoo.fr
Léopold Gustave Lehman
leopoldlehman@gmail.com
1 Laboratory of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, P.O. Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon
2 Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, Nko’olong Station, P.O. Box 219 Kribi, Cameroon
3 Biochemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, P.O. Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon
4 Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, Specialized Research Station in Marine Ecosystems, P.O. Box 219 Kribi, Cameroon
5 Laboratory of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, P.O. Box 24157 Douala, Cameroon
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed
Received: 09 Apr 2025 Accepted: 05 Aug 2025 Available Online: 11 Aug 2025
Spirulina platensis biomass is a renewable resource for the production of high-quality commodities. However, substantial costs and nutrient availability limit large-scale production. Nutrients from agro-industrial by-products can be used as potential sources of nutrition to increase S. platensis production. This study evaluated the potential of chicken feathers (CF) and Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MLE) as an eco-friendly alternative medium for determining S. platensis biomass and photosynthetic pigment production. The culture medium was formulated by processing chicken feathers into CF media. Different MLE concentrations (0, 10, 15, and 20 g L-1) were subsequently prepared in distilled water. S. platensis was cultured in cylindrical vessels under greenhouse conditions for 27 days. The CF media enriched with 15 g L-1 M. oleifera leaf extract (CF-MLE-15) presented the highest optical density (1.68 ± 0.03) and biomass dry weight (1.98 ± 0.05 g L-1), outperforming the values observed in the standard (JM) and the control (CF-MLE-0) media. Moreover, the content and productivity of carotenoids and chlorophyll a were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the CF-MLE-15 treatment than in the other CF-MLE and control treatments. Nonetheless, the contents of chlorophyll a (1.72 ± 0.12 mg L-1), carotenoids (0.90 ± 0.003 mg L-1), and phycobiliproteins in the standard medium (JM) exceeded those found in the CF-MLE treatments. Consequently, a CF medium supplemented with 15 g L-1 of M. oleifera leaf extract may be a viable and economical alternative for producing S. platensis biomass and photosynthetic molecules.
Disclaimer: This is not the final version of the article. Changes may occur when the manuscript is published in its final format.