Introduction: Phycocyanin is a blue pigment found in various types of algae such as Spirulina, Oxygen, and Andrococcus, which absorb green and blue light and are also photosynthetic.
Phycocyanin's chemical structure contains ether, carboxyl, and amino groups.
This pigment prevents premature aging and various types of cancer and cardiovascular diseases by eliminating free radicals that destroy healthy cells in the body.
The antioxidant properties of phycocyanin are similar to the antioxidant activity of vitamins C and E.
Consumption of phycocyanin, through its antioxidant activity and prevention of damage caused by oxidative stress, leads to the treatment of various chronic diseases such as: diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, etc.
Methods: reviewing _Article Title:
1/ Review article on the use of phycocyanin in the enrichment of dairy products_Authors: Ferishte Nouri_Heiman Nourbakhsh_Sayyed Sanan Zarei_Article Date: September 1403_Place: Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran
2/Article Title:
Optimization of Spirulina Plantensis growth and production of natural pigments using response surface methodology_Iranian Journal of Food Science and Technology
Authors: Niloufar Salehian Lanji_Mehshid Jehadi_Mitra Ataabadi
3/Book Microalgae and Biostabilization of Carbon Dioxide_Avay Qalam Publications
Authors: Dr. Maryam Pazuki_Engineer Ghasemzadeh_Dr. Hassan Hoveidi
4/ Book Biology and Biotechnology of Microalgae_Published by: University Publishing Center
Author: Dr. Nasrin Moazami
Results: Phycocyanin is a natural pigment obtained from cyanobacteria such as Spirulina.
It has attracted much attention due to its potential applications in various industries. And due to its two main characteristics: 1_Light blue color
2:Antioxidant properties
It is widely used in functional foods.
This has made Spirulina a healthy alternative to artificial colors.
Phycocyanin has several properties, including:
Antioxidant properties_Anti-inflammatory properties_Hepatoprotective and free radical scavenging ability.
Phycocyanin is the most important phycobiliprotein in Spirulina, which can constitute up to 20% of the dry weight of Spirulina, and its commercial production is currently carried out using phototrophic Arthrospira cultures in open ponds and streams. Improved production of phototrophic Arthrospira cultures is carried out in closed photobioreactors.
Conclusion: Given the current needs of society in the industrial sector and considering the sanctions that our beloved country Iran is struggling with and is experiencing, the need for self-sufficiency in various fields is more necessary than ever.
The natural pigment phycocyanin is currently imported from the world's leading countries at an exorbitant price, but given that it is better for the food industry in the country to produce higher quality and organic products with high nutritional value, the need for this valuable and natural pigment, which can be extracted directly from the superfood Spirulina, is increasing noticeably.
The properties of the natural pigment phycocyanin are described in detail in the aforementioned article, and replacing it with artificial colors, whether in the food industry, in the REVIEW
or in the pharmaceutical industry, will be a very useful and intelligent measure that will lead society to higher health and will also benefit the country economically over time.