Investigating the Potential of Spirulina platensis Microalgae in the Production of Essential Antioxidants

Spirulina platensis microalgae contain strong antioxidants and its health properties are related to antioxidant pigments, carotenoids, chlorophyll, and blue pigment unique to its phycocyanin. In this research, the amount of phycocyanin, beta-carotene, chlorophyll a and b were evaluated in Spirulina platensis microalgae.

In this experimental study, Spirulina platensis strain was cultured in Zarrouk liquid medium. Then the microalgae were dried and ground. The amount of beta-carotene at the wavelength of 451 nm and the amount of chlorophyll at the wavelength of 665 nm were read. The amount of phycocyanin in Spirulina platensis was calculated after reading at wavelengths 280 and 620 nm.

In Spirulina platensis microalgae, the amount of chlorophyll a was 0.8 mg/g and chlorophyll b was 0.2 mg/g. The amount of phycocyanin was 0.9 mg/g. The amount of beta-carotene was 7.9 g/100g. Antioxidant compounds include propyl gallate > 2.5 mg/kg, butylhydroquinone > 2.5 mg/kg, butylated hydroxyanisole > 2.5 mg/kg, butylated hydroxytoluene 208 mg/kg and the total amount of antioxidants > 215.5 mg/kg was recorded.

According to the current findings, Spirulina platensis microalgae has a high antioxidant capacity and can be useful in terms of nutrition, which of course needs more studies.