Lipids were extracted from dry biomass pellets using a modified solvent based method derived from Folch et al. [15]. First, lyophilized algal pellets were transferred into a chloroform/ methanol (2:1, v/v) mixture and homogenized (Heidolph homogenizer DIAX900, Germany) for 10 min. This was fol- lowed by centrifugation at 5000 rpm at 12 C for 10 min (Bio- fuge Stratos, Germany). The supernatant was collected in a separation funnel. The entire extraction process was repeated twice. Sodium chloride solution (0.9%) was then added at a proportion of 1:5 v/v of lipid extract. The extract was then shaken vigorously for 1 min and allowed to undergo phase separation for 15min. The chloroform layer was collected and dried initially in a rotary evaporator, and then in an oven at 80 C to constant weight. The total lipid was then quantified gravimetrically.