| Spirulina is one of the most concentrated natural | | | | contains each and every nutrient which is required |
| sources of nutrition known for both terrestrial and | | | | by the body to live healthy. |
| aquatic animals. It is a blue green, spiral shaped | | | | The United Nations World Food Conference in |
| micro-algae that can grow to great length and are | | | | 1974 declared that Spirulina is “The best |
| easy to harvest and has been consumed by | | | | food for tomorrow”. Today it is a part of |
| humans since pre historic times. | | | | diet for space travelers and US Olympic team. |
| Spirulina fits into practically any dietary plan | | | | Germans used it for treating obesity and is given |
| because it is an extremely digestible, high-energy, | | | | to nursing mothers in many countries. |
| gluten free, low-calorie, low-fat natural food | | | | Therapeutics of Spirulina |
| containing an incredibly wide range of important | | | | Soil fungi and bacteria have been the source for |
| nutrients. Spirulina is 60-70% protein by weight | | | | majority of antibiotics and therapeutics |
| and is the richest source of vitamins (Vitamin | | | | compounds. In addition researchers are searching |
| B-12), minerals, and carotenoids. It contains almost | | | | for some antibiotics/therapeutics compounds |
| every natural known antioxidant including zinc, | | | | from micro algae and have identified |
| manganese, selenium & copper, vitamin E, B | | | | cyanobacteria as one of the most promising |
| complex vitamins, ?-carotene (Vitamin A source), | | | | group of microorganism for synthesizing |
| bio-chelated iron and ?-linolenic acid. | | | | potentially new therapeutics compounds. |
| Potential and Prospects | | | | In India, the major nutritional deficiency diseases |
| Spirulina has commercial importance because of | | | | identified have been the protein deficiency, |
| its tremendous nutritional values, therapeutic | | | | malnutrition, iron deficiency, anemia and endemic |
| qualities, high protein content, low fat, high vitamin | | | | goiter. This micro alga has the longest history as |
| B-12 as well as essential amino acids like gamma | | | | food supplement since its nutritional properties |
| linolenic acids. The pigment of Spirulina also makes | | | | have been proved to be equal to other |
| this alga useful in aquaculture particularly as feed | | | | conventional plant proteins. This nutritionally rich, |
| for tropical fish. Spirulina are extracted for the | | | | non-toxic alga holds great promise for its |
| production of Phycocyanin known commercially as | | | | therapeutic utilization. Spirulina enhances the |
| “lime-blue” used as a blue colorant | | | | immune response particularly the primary |
| for food and feed. It has immense number of | | | | response by stimulating macrophage functions, |
| application in various industries but one of the | | | | phagocytosis and IL-1 production. Phycocyanin of |
| potential application that has gained increasing | | | | Spirulina plays major role in diagnostic industry and |
| importance during recent years is its utilization in | | | | acts as a good antioxidant. It has been shown |
| pharmaceuticals. | | | | that Spirulina can inhibit HIV-1 replicate in human |
| Total Health Food | | | | derived T- cells and in human peripheral blood |
| The growing demand of food material for ever | | | | mononuclear cells. |
| increasing population has forced the scientist to | | | | Recognition |
| search for some alternative non-conventional | | | | IIMSAM (Permanent Intergovernmental Observer |
| resources of food. Till now man has been | | | | to the United Nations Economic and Social Council) |
| exploring only plant resources of terrestrial | | | | recognizes the relevance of Spirulina to eradicate |
| ecosystem for their food requirements. Recently | | | | malnutrition and hunger. Hash Biotech labs spirulina |
| fresh water and marine plant resources have | | | | has been specifically chosen by IIMSAM to |
| been explore to fulfill our daily dietary | | | | eradicate malnutrition & to achieve the United |
| requirements. In this connection Spirulina is proved | | | | Nations Millennium Development Goals. |
| to be a very promising microorganism as it | | | | |