Alga Spirulina Research Articles

Selective protein depletion impairs bone growth and causes liver fatty infiltration in female rats: prevention by Spirulina alga

Chronic malnutrition is a main factor of child mortality in developing countries. A low protein diet impairs whole-body growth and leads to fatty liver in growing rats. Spi has great potential as a supplementation as it has a 60% protein content and all essential amino acids. However, its specific impact on bone growth and the related secretion of hepatokines have not yet been studied. To address this question, 6-week-old female rats were fed isocaloric diets containing 10% casein, 5% casein, or 5% casein + 5% protein from Spi during 9weeks. Changes in tibia geometry, microarchitecture, BMC, BMD, and biomechanical properties were analyzed. Serum IGF-I, FGF21, follistatin, and activin A were assessed as well as their hepatic gene expressions in addition to those of Sirt1, Ghr, and Igf1r. Hepatic fat content was also assessed. A low protein diet altered bone geometry and reduced proximal tibia BMD and trabecular bone volume. In addition, it increased hepatic fat content and led to hepatic GH resistance by decreasing serum IGF-I and increasing serum FGF21 without altering serum activin A and follistatin. Spi prevented low protein diet-induced bone, hepatic, and hormonal changes, and even led to higher biomechanical properties and lower hepatic fat content in association with specific InhbA and Follistatin expression changes vs. the 10% casein group. Altogether our results demonstrate the preventive impact of Spi on bone growth delay and hepatic GH resistance in conditions of isocaloric dietary protein deficiency.

Evaluation of antioxidant activity and flavonoid composition in differently preserved bee products

Ceksterytė V., Kurtinaitienė B., Venskutonis P.R., Pukalskas A., Kazernaviciūtė R., Balžekas J. (2016): Evaluation of antioxidant activity and flavonoid composition in differently preserved bee products. Czech J. Food Sci., 34: 133–142. Antioxidant potential and composition of phenolic compounds were studied in pure bee products (beebread – BB, bee pollen – BP) and in their mixtures with honey and vegetable oils [sea buckthorn (SBO), flax seed (FSO), royal jelly (RJ)], and the alga Spirulina (SA). The values of total phenolic content (TPC) found in the raw weight (RW) of material of BP, BB, SA, and RJ were 23.3, 21.2, 15.4, and 10.7 GAE mg/g, respectively. The methanolic extract of pure BP possessed higher ABTS·+scavenging capacity (5.37–6.47 TE mg/g RW) than BB (4.86–5.70 TE mg/g RW). The values of oxygen radical absorbance capacities (ORAC) of methanolic extracts of BB and BP were 626.30 and 894.04 TE mg/g RW, respectively. An analysis of flavonoids in the products by the ultra performance liquid chromatography showed that pure BP possesses a broader spectrum of compounds than pure BB. Three forms of glycosides were identified in BP: quercetin 3-o-sophoroside, quercetin dihexoside and isorhamnetin 3-glucoside. Rhamnetin and isorhamnetin as well as their glycosides and kaempferol 3-o-α-l-(2’’-e-p-coumaroyl-3’’-z-p-coumaroyl)-rhamnoside were determined in the samples of pollen mixed with honey (BPH).

Role of pH on antioxidants production by Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis.

Algae can tolerate a broad range of growing conditions but extreme conditions may lead to the generation of highly dangerous reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may cause the deterioration of cell metabolism and damage cellular components. The antioxidants produced by algae alleviate the harmful effects of ROS. While the enhancement of antioxidant production in blue green algae under stress has been reported, the antioxidant response to changes in pH levels requires further investigation. This study presents the effect of pH changes on the antioxidant activity and productivity of the blue green alga Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis. The algal dry weight (DW) was greatly enhanced at pH 9.0. The highest content of chlorophyll a and carotenoids (10.6 and 2.4 mg/g DW, respectively) was recorded at pH 8.5. The highest phenolic content (12.1 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g DW) was recorded at pH 9.5. The maximum production of total phycobiliprotein (159 mg/g DW) was obtained at pH 9.0. The antioxidant activities of radical scavenging activity, reducing power and chelating activity were highest at pH 9.0 with an increase of 567, 250 and 206% compared to the positive control, respectively. Variation in the activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) was also reported. While the high alkaline pH may favor the overproduction of antioxidants, normal cell metabolism and membrane function is unaffected, as shown by growth and chlorophyll content, which suggests that these conditions are suitable for further studies on the harvest of antioxidants from S. platensis.

CHEMICAL AND NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF FORTIFIED BISCUITS WITH DRIED Spirulina ALGAE

The cyanobacterium Spirulina, a multicellular and filamentous blue green microalgae, is used in many countries of world including Egypt as human safe food. This research aims to study the nutritional values of dried Spirulina algae and prepare healthy and high nutritive values biscuits blends fortified with Spirulina algae. This study revealed that Spirulina algae contained high level of protein 67.0±5.2% as dry weight and interesting amounts of bioactive compounds with antioxidative activity such as phycocyanin (1254±23mg /100g) and β-carotene (85±5 mg/100g). Spirulina algae was rich in minerals such as Na (859 mg/100g), K (1399 mg/100g), Ca (689 mg/100g), P (960 mg/100g), Mg (400 mg/100g) and Fe (122 mg/100g) as average. Results indicated that biscuit blends fortified with dried Spirulina algae as 0.5, 1, 2 and 3, % lead to improve the organoleptic, chemical and nutritional properties for it. Biscuit blends were organoleptically accepted for panel test as soon as demonstrated high nutritional values, bioactive, protein and mineral content when compared with unfortified biscuit samples (control).

English

In present research work impact of Monosodium glutamate (on the production & biochemical analysis of different pigment of spirulina has been done. As spirulina is a rainbow of pigment as it consists Chlorophyll a, Carotenoids including phyco cyanin, phycoerythrin and allophycocyanin, for this spirulina maxima have been procured from Manju l Spirulina Samwardhan Sansthan Burthal Bassi Jaipur, Rajasthan. and sub cultured in spirul ina lab Botany Department in CFTRI medium. In this MSG was used as additional nutrient in Spiruli na maxima cultivation. MSG also known glutamic acid is one of the most common naturally o ccurring non essential amino acid and it is the main component of many proteins & peptides. For the studies it was revealed that Monosodium glutamate has been used as additional nutrient used to explore the impact on growth pattern of test alga Spirulina maxima following three sets were des igned (a) MSG only (b) CFTRI only (c) MSG + CFTRI Optical density of the Spirulina maxima cultu re has been recorded regularly every 5 days interval up to 20 days at 415nm by using cistronic spectrophotometer 166. From the overall result it was found that CFTRI medium along with MSG shows go od nutrient medium for the growth of Spirulna maxima

Formulated Feed for Strombus pugilis (Mollusca, Gastropoda) Allowed Effective Gonad Maturity

Fighting conch Strombus pugilis is one of six Strombidae species distributed throughout the Caribbean. It is used as food, as an aquarium organism and its shell are popular in jewelry production. Conch aquaculture has been done traditionally by extracting egg masses from wild adults. This is an issue for several conch species protected by CITES. Intensive conch culture requires good growth rates and gonad maturity under laboratory conditions using formulated feed. An evaluation was done of the effect of inclusion of the red algae Halymenia and Spirulina on gonad maturity in S. pugilis using two experimental diets containing low and high concentrations of these algae (2% and 8% of each). Each diet was fed to six groups of conch kept in 20 L aquaria at 27.5°C. They were fed twice daily at 0.1 g feed/conch for 105 days. Gonad development and digestive gland structure were analyzed with histological techniques. Analysis of gonad development and vitellus granule diameter were analyzed for the two treatments and a control (wild conch). Wild conch females exhibited a reproductive cycle with 100% maturity at the beginning of this study, followed immediately by spawning (in two peaks: 50% and 34%) and initiation of a new oogenesis cycle. Females fed the 8% H. floresii and 8% Spirulina diet exhibited two spawning peaks (75% and 100%) spaced a month apart, and larger yolk granules than those in the control and the 2% H. floresii and 2% Spirulina diet. Proteoglycan granule abundance in the digestive cells did not differ between treatments. H. floressi and Spirulina may function as a feeding stimulant, enhancing feed intake and promoting gonadal maturity in S. pugilis broodstock under laboratory conditions.

Proteomic Analysis of Protein Turnover by Metabolic Whole Rodent Pulse-Chase Isotopic Labeling and Shotgun Mass Spectrometry Analysis.

The analysis of protein half-life and degradation dynamics has proven critically important to our understanding of a broad and diverse set of biological conditions ranging from cancer to neurodegeneration. Historically these protein turnover measures have been performed in cells by monitoring protein levels after "pulse" labeling of newly synthesized proteins and subsequent chase periods. Comparing the level of labeled protein remaining as a function of time to the initial level reveals the protein's half-life. In this method we provide a detailed description of the workflow required for the determination of protein turnover rates on a whole proteome scale in vivo. Our approach starts with the metabolic labeling of whole rodents by restricting all the nitrogen in their diet to exclusively nitrogen-15 in the form of spirulina algae. After near complete organismal labeling with nitrogen-15, the rodents are then switched to a normal nitrogen-14 rich diet for time periods of days to years. Tissues are harvested, the extracts are fractionated, and the proteins are digested to peptides. Peptides are separated by multidimensional liquid chromatography and analyzed by high resolution orbitrap mass spectrometry (MS). The nitrogen-15 containing proteins are then identified and measured by the bioinformatic proteome analysis tools Sequest, DTASelect2, and Census. In this way, our metabolic pulse-chase approach reveals in vivo protein decay rates proteome-wide.

Sugar mill effluent treatment using Spirulina for recycling of water, saving energy and producing protein

Water security may be regarded as a first step toward achieving food and energy security. Efficient use of fresh water resources and recycling of wastewater after proper treatment are viewed as tools to achieve water sustainability. Sugar industry can have good potential to treat and reuse its effluents. This potential is not realized by prevailing effluent treatment technologies because of high capital and operation cost of treatment process. More upon, these technologies require substantial amount of energy (electricity) as well as chemicals and labors. We have therefore focused on the development of a technology that would help to overcome these limitations. The alga—Spirulina—was our choice to (1) treat the effluent and (2) use the sugar mill effluent as its growth medium. Experiments using Spirulina at secondary treatment stage showed 91 % reduction in chemical oxygen demand in 108-h treatment time. Further, biochemical analysis of Spirulina harvested from the sugar mill effluent treatment tanks revealed that the harvested biomass has high protein levels. Spirulina is well known for its usage as a protein supplement and therefore can be used as an additional source of revenue generation.

Growth and Nitrogen Removal Efficiency as Protein Content of Spirulina from Tertiary Municipal Wastewater in Ouargla (Algerian Bas-Sahara)

The green alga Spirulina, Arthrospira platensis was grown under shelter condition. The aim of this work is to find an approach for biologically recycling wastewater by Spirulina (strain of Tamanrasset) in area of Ouargla. The efficiency of Spirulina on the removal of N by evaluating protein content and biomass productivity were calculated, in comparative study, using two different culture mediums, conventional water medium CWM and Wastewater medium WWM. The use of wastewater was evaluated as a low-cost medium. The Good growth was obtained in wastewater medium; the maximum cell concentration and protein content achieved in WWM medium were 2.92±0.14g L-1 and 24.5±2.83% respectively. By adding 10% to the protein content, the cell content of nitrogen organic removal could estimate. It appears that the integration of Spirulina with wastewater is a promising way of simultaneously treating wastewater in our region and producing a biomass which could be incorporated into animal feeding.

Effects of algae incorporation into broiler starter diet formulations on nutrient digestibility and 3 to 21 d bird performance

Algae, a human supplement and alternative fuel source, has potential as a feed ingredient for poultry. Three studies were conducted with the following objectives: determine digestible nutrient values for a commercially availableSpirulina algae (Study 1), formulate and pellet a practical broiler starter diet using these data (Study 2), and assess feeding diet formulations with varying levels of algae on Hubbard X Cobb 500 broiler performance and apparent ileal amino acid digestibility (AIAAD; Study 3).Spirulina algae TMEn (2,839 kcal/kg) and true amino acid digestibility (TAAD) values (2.10, 1.07, 0.42, and 1.97% lysine, methionine, cysteine, and threonine, respectively) from Study 1 were used to formulate a practical broiler starter diet containing 21% algae. A diet containing 0% algae was also formulated. Both diets were pelleted, ground, and mixed at different ratios to create diets containing 6, 11, and 16% algae. The 21% algae diet resulted in a nominally lower production rate and an increase in hot pellet temperature and pellet durability compared to the 0% algae diet. Diets containing up to 16% algae resulted in statistically similar ending parameter compared birds fed the 0% algae diet: ending bird weight (EBW), live weight gain, and feed intake (P > 0.05). The 16% algae diet resulted in the highest level of digestible cysteine and lysine (P < 0.0001). All diets containing algae resulted in higher digestible methionine values compared to the 0% algae diet (P < 0.0001). Descriptive feed manufacture, performance, and AIAAD data demonstrated value in algae incorporation into practical diet formulations.

Bioremediation of contaminated water with unnatural dye using blue‐green alga spirulina platensis

Blue‐green alga Spirulina platensis as a cheap biosorbent was tested for its ability to remove a common azo dye, C.I. Basic Red 46 (C.I. BR 46), from contaminated water. Dye biosorption was a quick process and biosorption reaction reached equilibrium within 60 min. The pseudo‐first‐order, pseudo‐second‐order, logistic, and intraparticle diffusion models were used for the kinetic evaluation. The logistic model presented the best fit to the experimental data. The biosorption data were analyzed using Freundlich, Langmuir, and Dubinin‐Radushkevich isotherm models. Langmuir model fitted better to the equilibrium data than Freundlich model. The maximum dye biosorption capacity was obtained as 25.46 mg g−1 for the biosorbent. Dubinin‐Radushkevich model showed that the predominant mechanism of the dye biosorption was likely physical biosorption. This study suggests promising biosorption potential of S. platensis for C.I. BR 46 removal from contaminated effluents. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 34: 1414–1419, 2015

POSSIBILITIES OF PHYSICAL METHODS IN DEVELOPMENT OF MICROBIAL NANOTECHNOLOGY

The results of applied investigations carried out by some groups of Georgian scientists in the field of nanobiotechnology using different physical and chemical methods are presented. A number of new strains of the terrestrial actinomycetes isolated from soils and rocks of Georgia as well as the blue-green alga Spirulina platensis were used as the templates for production the noble metal nanoparticles on examples of silver and gold. A variety of spectral and analytical methods was applied to determine optimal conditions of synthesis and characterize the synthesized nanoparticles. The features of the used research methods and some results obtained with them are detail described. The advantages of each method and their ability to characterize the process of synthesis of nanoparticles are shown.

The Production of Ethanol from Micro-Algae Spirulina

This study ascertained the technical potential of producing bio fuel from naturally occurring micro algae spirulina. The algae are grown by BCSIR and the collected algae are examined. The growing environment contains nitrates, phosphates and carbon dioxide that come from atmosphere. The overall research work consisted of manual and mechanical drying of algae, grinding and subjecting the algal matter to acid hydrolysis to extract carbohydrates to form an algal sugar solution. Fermentation of that solution was performed with Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce ethanol. The presents of ethanol in the solution assures the ultimate desired destination of the work. An average of 15.2g/L of reducing sugar was extracted in the hydrolysate showing that microalgae have significant usable carbohydrates after hydrolysis to conduct this research work. Ethanol percentage varies with the variation of hydrolysis time, concentration of sulfuric acid and fermentation time. The average value of ethanol percentage varies between 0.85-1.0 percentamong the samples. Although the ethanol percentage is not economical for this algae but the main task of establishing the process of bio fuel production from micro algae comes to a successful end. This process gives the assurance and defined way of bio fuel production from other carbohydrate enriched micro algae.

Rheological and Chemical Characterization of Biobinders from Different Biomass Resources

The increasing costs and strong worldwide demand for petroleum and the adverse environmental impact of the consumption of nonrenewable energy sources have encouraged the development of alternative sources of renewable energy. One source of renewable energy can be developed in biorefineries, where biomass feedstocks can be converted to biocrude oil through thermochemical processes. Biocrude oil can replace petroleum-based transportation fuels and can be used to build and maintain transportation infrastructure, which requires an energy-intensive process that consumes natural resources, including mineral aggregates, steel, cement, and petroleum-based binder. This study aimed to characterize biocrude oil as an alternative binder material, which is referred to here as biobinder. The hydrothermal liquefaction technique was used to produce biobinder from spirulina algae (microalgae), swine manure, and nanoalgae. A chemical analysis was performed with the saturates, aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes technique to characterize the percentage of different components present in the biobinder. A rheological characterization of biobinders was conducted to evaluate their feasibility for use in pavement construction and to predict their performance during the service life of a pavement. Surface free energy properties of biobinders also were determined with the use of a sessile drop device to characterize adhesion properties. The results indicated that biobinder had significantly different rheological and chemical properties than conventional asphalt binder. When blended with conventional binder, biobinder showed the potential to reduce the stiffness of original binder. As a result, it might be used to rejuvenate mixes with recycled asphalt materials or find an application under low-temperature conditions.

Phycocyanobilin, a bioactive tetrapyrrolic compound of blue-green alga Spirulina, binds with high affinity and competes with bilirubin for binding on human serum albumin

High affinity, stereo-selective binding of phycocyanobilinM-conformer to HSA, and its competition with bilirubin, warfarin and hemin for the binding to protein.

ОПТИМИЗАЦИЯ УСЛОВИЙ ВЫДЕЛЕНИЯ ХЛОРОФИЛЛОВ ИЗ КРАПИВЫ ДВУДОМНОЙ (URTICA DIOICA L.) И СПИРУЛИНЫ (SPIRULINA PLATENSIS)

Various factors as the nature of the solvent, temperature, presence or absence of stirring and sonication, affecting the efficiency of extractive separation of the two chlorophylls from two plant sources – a flowering plant of nettle (Urtica dioica L.), containing a mixture of chlorophyll a and b, and the blue-green alga spirulina (Spirulina platensis), containing only chlorophyll a, are compared in a paper. The aim of the work was to optimize the conditions for the allocation of chlorophyll from plant material.

Production and evaluation of some extruded food products using spirulina algae

Production and evaluation of some extruded food products using spirulina algae

Green Fairy Dusts: Three natural proposals to confront the nutrition and environment emergency

In response to widespread malnutrition, under-nutrition and rampant obesity, and in the context of climate change, a wise nutrition path for the whole world should include locally produced traditional/innovative food supplements to accompany the recovery and adaptation of traditional and indigenous diets. The three ‘bright greens’ discussed here – among others – are spirulina algae, nettle leaves and the moringa tree’s many gifts. Easily powdered for a wide and versatile use, these ‘fairy dusts’ are practical and appropriate responses to the dual challenges of nutrition and climate change. They also offer an important transformational strategy against the dominant globalization of processed food.

Blue green alga mediated synthesis of gold nanoparticles and its antibacterial efficacy against Gram positive organisms.

Biofunctionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) play an important role in design and development of nanomedicine. Synthesis of AuNPs from biogenic materials is environmentally benign and possesses high bacterial inhibition and bactericidal properties. In the present study, blue green alga Spirulina platensis protein mediated synthesis of AuNPs and its antibacterial activity against Gram positive bacteria is discussed. AuNPs were characterized using Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, Fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier Transform-Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, High Resolution-Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). Stable, well defined AuNPs of smaller and uniform shape with an average size of ~ 5 nm were obtained. The antibacterial efficacy of protein functionalized AuNPs were tested against Gram positive organisms Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus.

Biosorption of Heavy Metal Cu&lt;sup&gt;2+&lt;/sup&gt; and Cr&lt;sup&gt;2+&lt;/sup&gt; in Textile Wastewater by Using Immobilized Algae

The objective of this research was to utilize microalgae Chlorella sp. and Spirulina sp., as biosorption agents for heavy metals removal available in textile waste water. The biosorption of Cu and Cr ions from textile waste water solutions by immobilized algae (Spirulina and Chlorella) were tested under laboratory conditions as a function of waste concentration (15-50% dilution) and ratio of bead and waste water (1:1-1:3). Experimental results showed that the Langmuir adsorption models were suitable for describing the short-term biosorption of by all algal species. The best ratio of bead: wastewater (v/v) for removal heavy metal in textile wastewater was 1:3. The maximum Cu removed from the waste was 89% while Cr was removed with 90% by using Chlorella sp. The algae Spirulina showed a higher removal capacity of 90%. The maximum absorption capacity of Cu was achieved at 16.2 and 13.6 mg/g by using Spirulina and Chlorella, respectively, while the maximum sorption capacity for Cr was achieved at 1.95 and 1.45 mg/g for algae Spirulina and Chlorella, respectively.