AIMS This study was conducted to determine the antioxidant capacity, immunomodulatory and lipid-lowering effects of spirulina in healthy elderly subjects and to document the effectiveness of spirulina as a functional food for the elderly. METHODS A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed. The subjects were 78 individuals aged 60-87 years and were randomly assigned in a...

Recent studies show that ingestion of flavanol-rich cocoa powder provokes increased endothelial production of nitric oxide - an effect likely mediated by epicatchin - and thus may have considerable potential for promoting vascular health. The Kuna Indians of Panama, who regularly consume large amounts of flavanol-rich cocoa, are virtually free of hypertension and stroke, even though they salt t...

The prophyalactic contributions of spirulina and thankuni on rats experimentally induced with arsenic toxicity were tested and the comparative efficacies of both spirulina and thankuni were determined. Sixty apparently healthy rats were received, divided into 5 groups (T0 for control, T1 for arsenic treated group, T2 for arsenic plus spirulina treated group, T3 for arsenic plus thankuni treated...

OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimal radiation dose and observe the influence of radiation sterilization on spirulina polypeptide powder. METHODS: The polypeptide powder of spirulina was sterilized using a 60Coγ ray. RESULTS: Radiation sterilization had significant effects on spirulina polypeptide powder, which was more effective with increasing radiation dose. Taking the sterilization rate and ...

The effluent from the biogas process was tested as a nutrient source during cultivation of the protein-rich and edible microalgae Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) and compared with conventional Spirulina medium. Equal biomass production was observed until late exponential phase and no significant differences could be observed between the treatments in protein amount, amino acid composition, an...

Spirulina is a photosynthetic, filamentous, spiral-shaped and multicellular edible microbe. It is the nature's richest and most complete source of nutrition. Spirulina has a unique blend of nutrients that no single source can offer. The alga contains a wide spectrum of prophylactic and therapeutic nutrients that include B-complex vitamins, minerals, proteins, gamma-linolenic acid and the super ...

Cosmetic patches have recently been developed as skin products for personal care owing to rapid advances in the technology of delivery of active ingredients, moisture, and adhesiveness to skin. Alginate and Spirulina are typical marine resources used in cosmetic products. This research involved the development of a Spirulina extract-impregnated alginate nanofiber cosmetic patch supported by a p...

The present study reports the effect of Spirulina on radiation induced hematological and biochemical alterations in Swiss albino mice. Animals of Group-I (Control, radiation alone) were exposed to gamma radiation (8 Gy), while, animals of Group-II (Experimental, Spirulina + Radiation), received Spirulina (800 mg/kg body weight) for seven consecutive days and were exposed to gamma radiation (as ...

BACKGROUND Multi-factorial etiology exists in pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. The imbalance of anti-oxidant enzymes and dopamine level leads to Parkinsonism. The objective of this study was to assess the protective effect of Spirulina fusiform alone and in combination with amantadine against Parkinsonism effect in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) induced rat model. METHODS S. fusifor...

Spirulina platensis is a cyanobacterial species that is surmised to potentiate the immune system leading to suppression of cancer development and viral infection. Here, we identified the molecular mechanism of the human immune potentiating capacity of Spirulina by analyzing blood cells of volunteers with pre and post oral administration of hot water extract of Spirulina. NK functions represente...