Biochemical profiling of three indigenous Dunaliella isolates with main focus on fatty acid composition towards potential biotechnological application

[Display omitted] •Biochemical composition of native isolates determined their potential application.•The isolates tend to store energy and carbon mainly in lipid, not carbohydrate, form.•The fatty acid profile of the isolates show appropriate n3:n6 and health lipid indices.•Dunaliella sp. ABRIINW-B1 and -G2/1 are the proper options for nutraceutical purposes.•Dunaliella sp. ABRIINW-I1 well suits pharmaceutical and aquaculture application. This study describes the biochemical composition of three isolates, Dunaliella sp. ABRIINW-B1, -G2/1 and -I1 towards the biotechnological potential. Dunaliella sp. ABRIINW- G2/1 and -I1 had a remarkable protein content (∼40% dry weight). Dunaliella sp. ABRIINW-I1 contained a pigment fraction of 3.2% largely composed of chlorophyll a (1.9%) and carotenoid (1.1%). Dunaliella sp. ABRIINW-B1, -G2/1 and -I1 produced respectively 42, 36 and 47% lipid content. The occurrence of high lipid and low carbohydrate (4–7%) in the isolates demonstrated their cell tendency to store energy and carbon mainly in lipid form. The lipid profile of the isolates expressed adequate n3:n6 ratio and health indices. The biochemical analysis revealed that Dunaliella sp. ABRIINW-B1 and -G2/1 have potential applications in the food and freshwater aquafeed sector. While Dunaliella sp. ABRIINW-I1 owing to appropriate pigment, protein, and lipid level containing very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids showed a great promise in nutritional, pharmaceutical and marine aquafeed industries.