Identification de métabolites microalgaux avec effets cytotoxiques, inflammatoires ou anti-inflammatoires, via des modèles cellulaires de peau humaine

Microalgae present a dual nature: while certain species are toxic or harmful, posing risks to human health, the environment, and socio-economic activities, others are of interest for their ability to produce metabolites with promising industrial potential. The toxic dinoflagellates Ostreopsis cf. ovata and Vulcanodinium rugosum can cause skin irritation during blooms, whereas Dunaliella salina, Tetraselmis suecica, and Cylindrotheca fusiformis exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties beneficial to skin care. This PhD project combined analytical chemistry and cellular bioassays to identify the metabolites responsible for the reported cutaneous effects. Extracts of O. cf. ovata displayed strong cytotoxicity correlated with the presence of ovatoxins (OVTXs), and the five purified analogues (OVTX-a to -e) showed similar toxicity profiles.