Preliminary data for comparing antibiotic hormesis against nitrogen starvation in Scenedesmus sp.

The present dataset is a preliminary investigation on the hormetic effects of antibiotic supplementation on Scenedesmus sp. growth, chlorophyll, fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profile, and metabolite productivities (alpha-linolenic acid, alpha-tocopherol). It compares the results obtained with those of nitrogen limitation and sequential nitrogen starvation. The analysis showed that antibiotic supplementation triggered monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) accumulation and significant increase in alpha-linolenic acid and alpha-tocopherol productivities compared to both nitrogen limitation and sequential nitrogen starvation. The dataset could be useful for algal biotechnology with possible applications in targeted algal farming for high-value metabolites.