Content area
Full Text
The micro algae Spirulina platensis is also known as single cell protein which is rich in all essential nutrients and vitamins and also possess tremandouspharmacolgical activity against many illness. In this review we have discussed about the important nutrient and pharmacalogical properties of spirulina such as antioxitdant and protein profile, anti viral property, anti cancerous property, neuro protective, eye sight protective activity, immunity boosting property and etc,. It is treasure of nutrients.
KEYWORDS: anti oxidant, single cell protein, anti cancerous, antiviral, neuro protective, immunity.
INTRODUCTION:
Spirulina is a minute and thread like structured cyanobacterium belong to oscillatoriaceae family. It was used as a food and food supplements in the history of many countries. Its name obtained from spiral and helical feature of its filaments. 400 years ago spirulina was used as food in Mexico during Aztec civilization. Kanembu tribes till now uses Spirulina in the lake chad area of the Republic of chad where it is given as dried bread known as dihe'.[1] The immortality of this cyanobacteria is a outcome of its nutritional potential and economic remark which emerges from the distinctive feature of the cultivated species. like S. fusiformis, S. laxissima, S. subsalsa, S. lonar, S. labyrin-thiformis, S. maxima and S. platensis. In these, S. maxima and S. platensis are mostly used for the nutritional and therapeutic reasons. Spirulina is consumed as a sustaining food concentrate as it is very affluent in protein [60-70%] [2], vitamins [4%] [3], essential fatty acids and anti-oxidants.
Spirulina is used as source of required fatty acids such as linoleic acid [LA], linolenic acid [GLA], [4], phycobiliproteins [5,6,7,8], the very important being phycocyanin and allophycocyanin [9,10], amino acids; the highest values are leucine [10.9% of total amino acids], valine [7.5%] and isoleucine [6.8%] [2] and minerals like iron. Groups of undernourished children and adults have resiprocated well to Spirulina administration [11]. Treatment of the victims of nuclear disaster at Chernobyl, especially children whose bone marrow had been damaged from radia-tion exposure sustained the immune system. [12] Toxicological research of all the Spirulina species have not exposed any toxiceffect on kidney, liver, reproductive system and body physiology during and after acute or chronic doses [13,14,15,16]. Spirulina does not contain cellulose cell walls and therefore does not require chemical...