Title:Nutritional and Medical Applications of Spirulina Microalgae
VOLUME: 13 ISSUE: 8
Author(s):S.M. Hoseini, K. Khosravi-Darani and M.R. Mozafari
Affiliation:Department of Food Technology Research, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 19395- 4741, Tehran, Iran.
Keywords:anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, chemical composition, immunostimulant, metalloprotective, Spirulina.
Abstract:Spirulina spp. and its processing products are employed in agriculture, food industry, pharmaceutics,
perfumery and medicine. Spirulina has several pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial (including antiviral and
antibacterial), anticancer, metalloprotective (prevention of heavy-metal poisoning against Cd, Pb, Fe, Hg), as well as
immunostimulant and antioxidant effects due to its rich content of protein, polysaccharide, lipid, essential amino and fatty
acids, dietary minerals and vitamins. This article serves as an overview, introducing the basic biochemical composition of
this algae and moves to its medical applications. For each application the basic description of disease, mechanism of
damage, particular content of Spirulina spp. for treatment, in vivo and/or in vitro usage, factors associated with therapeutic
role, problems encountered and advantages are given.
