Publish Time: 2022-11-14 Origin: Site
Phycocyanin is a dark blue powder isolated from Spirulina. Mainly found in cyanobacteria, red algae and cryptographic algae. Phycocyanin is usually divided into C-phycocyanin and R-phycocyanin, the former mainly exists in cyanobacteria, the latter mainly exists in red algae, and both are present in cryptoalgae. Its function is to absorb light (orange-yellow) energy and transmit light energy. It is both a protein and an excellent natural food coloring as well as a good health food.
Phycocyanin is one of the rare pigment proteins in nature. It is not only bright in color, but also a nutrient-rich protein with complete amino acid composition and high content of essential amino acids.
Phycocyanin has the functions of anti-virus, promoting blood cell regeneration, maintaining ovary, and promoting the synthesis of elastin in the human body. At the beginning of the 21st century, in Europe, America, Japan and other countries, phycocyanin was widely used as a high-grade natural pigment for food and cosmetics, and was made into biochemical drugs.
Blue particles or powder are protein-binding pigments, so they have the same properties as proteins, and the isoelectric point is 3.4. Soluble in water, insoluble in alcohol and grease. It is unstable to heat, light and acid. It is stable under weak acid and neutrality (pH4.5~8), precipitates when it is acidic (pH4.2), and can be decolorized by strong alkali.
The application research of phycocyanin is very extensive, which can be summarized in the following aspects:
1. Natural food coloring: Phycocyanin is a water-soluble pigment, non-toxic, pure blue, bright and lovely, and can be used as food coloring agent and cosmetic additive.
2. Medicine and health food: Phycocyanin in vitro experiment can stimulate erythrocyte colony formation, similar to erythropoietin (EPO). A variety of phycocyanin compound drugs have been successfully developed abroad. The Japanese Kangpai AIDS Research Institute has reported that phycocyanin can improve anemia and improve hemoglobin.
3. Special reagents for biological, chemical and cytological experiments: Phycocyanin blue and fluorescent, can be used as some photodynamic research reagents in biology and cytology.
Phycocyanin can help regulate and synthesize a variety of important enzymes needed for human metabolism. It plays an important role in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, promoting human cell regeneration, maintaining ovaries, and promoting the synthesis of elastin in the human body. At the same time, phycocyanin regulates the human body. Immune system, enhance the function of the immune system and improve the body's resistance to disease. Therefore, phycocyanin is vividly known as "food diamond" by food experts. It has great effects in the following areas.
Phycocyanin has been shown to inhibit cancer cell expansion. Scientists have found that phycocyanin has the function of significantly inhibiting cancer cells. Can be made into anti-tumor adjuvant therapy drugs, adjuvant therapy for chemotherapy can enhance the body's immunity. In a scientific experiment, rats with liver cancer were fed extracted phycocyanin and found that the survival rate of rats fed with phycocyanin was much higher than that of the control group. After 5 weeks, 90% of the rats in the treatment group had Survived, while only 25% of the untreated group survived. After 8 weeks, 25% of the treated group survived, and the untreated group of rats died. This suggests that oral phycocyanin can improve the survival rate of organisms with cancer.
Phycocyanin can promote cell activity, scavenge free radicals in the body, improve ovarian function, and promote the rapid synthesis of elastin in the human body. According to scientific research, phycocyanin has the effect of stimulating the formation of erythrocyte colonies, similar to erythropoietin (epo); it can adjust white blood cells and improve the activity of lymphocytes; increase physical fitness, promote the growth of red blood cells, improve the immune function of the body, and promote growth development.
The research team of National Taiwan University published new research results on January 7, and found that purified phycocyanin has an inhibitory effect on all allergies.
The algae are obtained by culturing the cyanobacteria spirochetes Arthrospira spores at pH 8.5~11, in a medium with carbonate or carbon dioxide as the carbon source, at 30~35°C, and drying with water. The pigments and soluble proteins are extracted, and the extract is concentrated by vacuum and then spray-dried.