SPIRULINA

- A blue green alga

Emerging as a promising

therapeutic aquatic

microphyte….

Presented by

Dr. Sudhakar Kokate

Director PPRC, India

Algae in

general

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Chlorella

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Giant kelp

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Golden alga

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Spirulina platensis

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As a result of the potential for new drug

discovery,

Marine Natural Products

have attracted scientists from different

disciplines

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Till date > 8500 marine natural

products have been discovered

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Algae

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Simplest member of plant kingdom

In existence on earth for > 2 bn. yrs.

To date 30,000 species of alga have been

identified

Predominant primary producers in the

food chain of the ecosystem

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Diverse group of plant kingdom

Photosynthetic organisms that range from

single to multi-cellular complex thalli

Freshwater & marine algae: resource of

compounds for the drug

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About

Spirulina....

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Blue green algae : simplest form

Distribution : wide on terrestrial & aquatic

forms

Etyology – Cyanophyta

Myxophyta

Cyanochloronta

Cyanobacteria

Blue green algae

Blue green bacteria

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Taxonomy

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Plant kingdom: Monera

Division: Cyanophyta

Genus: Spirulina

Phylum: Cyanobacteria

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Origin &

distribution

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Found in fresh water lakes & ponds

Mexico, Africa, Asian societies – consume

as food since several years

Japan – popular nutritional food

supplement

U.S. green foods contain wheatgrass,

barley grass & chlorella

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Algae : Common

species

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Used as nutritional supplement

Spirulina platensis:

Arthrospira platensis

Spirulina maxima

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Chemical

constituents

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1. Protein

2. Amino acids

3. Carbohydrates

4. Minerals

5. Gamma – linolenic acid

6. Pigments like chlorophyll, carotenoids,

phycobilin

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7. β-complex vitamins

8. β-carotene

9. Vitamin E

10. Manganese

11. Zinc

12. Copper

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13. Iron

14. Selenium

15. Glyco-lipids

16. Sulfo-lipids

17. Polysaccharides

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Properties

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1. Chemo-protective & anti-cancer

2. Neuro-protective

3. Anti-viral

4. Cardio-protective

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5. Immunomodulatory

6. Anti-inflammation

7. Anti-oxidant

8. Anti-obesity

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Thank you!!

“BE WITH US”