Recent Developments in Production of C-Phycocyanin and its Application Through Biotechnological Perspective

Abstract

Microalgae have found commercial application as natural resources of valuable metabolites like protein, lipids, carbohydrates, pigments, carotenoids or vitamin and chlorophyll. Among these, C-Phycocyanin is a blue pigment in cyanobacteria, rhodophytes and cryophytes with fluorescent and antioxidant properties. C-phycocyanin has many applications in food, health and therapeutical purposes. Now-a-days increased awareness of the toxic effect of synthetic compounds and community preference towards the use of natural products have led to focus on micro-algae as a source of natural colorant. Recently, phycocyanin is being considered to be used to treat against Ebola virus disease by its super anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and various medicinal virtues. This paper presents recent developments about the new sources and production of C-phycocyanin, extraction and purification techniques in biotechnological perspective. Besides, this paper focuses on present and promising applications of C-phycocyanin in food industry, also for diagnostics purposes and neutraceuticals at large.

Keywords: Microalgae, Spirulina Plantesis, Phycocyanin, Phycobiliprotein, Pigment

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