Working on a standard protocol for the quantification of phycocyanin from Arthrospira platensis: first attempts for validation

Abstract

It is a fact that the use of microalgae for various commercial uses is becoming more and more common, such as cosmetics, nutraceuticals or pharmacology. Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis is one of the main sources of these components, such as proteins, fatty acids, carotenoids and phycobiliproteins. Spirulina has a wide range of pharmacological uses due to its phycobiliprotein content, especially C-phycocyanin, which is also used as a natural dye. Its potential use for anticancer treatments is still under study. Over the years, many methods have been developed, such as freezing and thawing, sonication and mechanical disruption for cell disruption, and high-speed cent rifugation, ammonium sulfate precipitation and ion exchange chromatography for extract purification. This has resulted in many ways to extract this pigment, with different techniques, yields and degrees of purity, but without a common methodology. Therefore, the development of standards for algal protocols and algae products is proposed. The objective of this study is to evaluate a common methodology, so that the extraction follows a single method with the best possible yield and purity. In this way, we will be able to compare the results obtained in different laboratories.