Cyanobacteria are a rich source of bioactive compounds, mainly in the Arthospira sp., and one of the most interesting components in recent years has been C-phycocyanin (C-PC). There have been several conventional methods for their extraction, among which stand out: chemical products, freezing-thawing (FT); enzymatic, and maceration (M); which have come to be replaced by more environmentally friendly methods, such as those assisted by microwaves (MW) and high-pressure homogenization (HPH). The aim of the research was to use these two “green extraction processes” to obtain C-PC from cyanobacteria Arthrospira maxima because they improve functionality and are fast. Extractions of C-PC were studied by means of two experimental designs for MW and HPH, based on a response surface methodology (RSM) employing, firstly, a factorial design 3³: power (100, 200, and 300 W), time (15, 30, and 60 s), and types of solvents (distiller water, Na-phosphate buffer and, distiller water: Na-phosphate buffer (Ph 7.0; 1:1, v/v); and secondly, two factors with different levels: Pressure (800, 1000, 1200, 1400, and 1600 bar) and, types of solvents (distilled water, Na-phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) 100 mM and, Na-phosphate buffer:water 1:1, (v/v)). Optimum C-PC content was achieved with the HPH process under Na-phosphate solvent at 1400 bar (291.9 ± 6.7 mg/g) and the MW method showed improved results using distilled water as a solvent at 100 W for 30 s (215.0 ± 5.5 mg/g). In the case of conventional methods, the freeze–thawing procedure reached better results than maceration using the buffer (225.6 ± 2.6 mg/g). This last one also did not show a significant difference between solvents (a range of 147.7–162.0 mg/g). Finally, the main advantage of using green extractions are the high C-PC yield achieved, effectively reducing both processing times, costs, and increasing the economic and functional applications of the bioactive compound.

Macroemulsions facilitate the solubilization, stability, bioaccessibility, and bioactivity of compounds with low solubility, as is the case of the emulsion developed from astaxanthin oleoresin (10%). In this study, some characteristics of the physical behavior of the macroemulsion with astaxanthin oleoresin that are in close relationship with stability were determined. One of them was the viscosity at 5, 10, 20 and 30°C. Another, corresponded to observing the size variation of the micelles, observed under the microscope for 8 days and finally, the color was determined in CIEL*a*b* system for 34 days. The results showed that the macroemulsion behaved like a shear thinning fluid up to 20°C, becoming a shear thickening fluid at 30° C. In addition, the macroemulsion presented stability in the color as time elapsed; observing some slight variations that may be due to flocculation and coalescence. Both affect the viscosity at low temperatures.