Phycocyanin
Plant Original: Arthrospira platensis
Part Used: Cultivated whole Algae
Appearance: Fine Blue Powder
Description:
Phycocyanin is a pigmentprotein complex from the lightharvesting phycobiliprotein family, along with allophycocyanin and phycoerythrin. It is an accessory pigment to chlorophyll.
All phycobiliproteins are water-soluble, so they cannot exist within the membrane like
carotenoids can. Instead, phycobiliproteins aggregate to form clusters that adhere to the membrane called phycobilisomes. Phycocyanin is a characteristic light blue color, absorbing
orange and red light, particularly near 620 nm (depending on which specific type it is), and emits fluorescence at about 650 nm (also depending on which type it is). Allophycocyanin absorbs and emits at longer wavelengths than phycocyanin C or phycocyanin R. Phycocyanins are found in Cyanobacteria (also called bluegreen algae). Phycobiliproteins have
fluorescent properties that are used in immunoassay kits. Phycocyanin is from the Greek phyco meaning "algae" and cyanin is from the English word "cyan", which conventionally means a shade of bluegreen (close to "aqua") and is derived from the Greek "kyanos" which means a somewhat different color: "dark blue". The product phycocyanin, produced by
Aphanizomenon flosaquae and spirulina, is for example used in the food and beverage
industry as the natural coloring agent 'Lina Blue' and is found in sweets and ice cream.
The phycobiliproteins are made of two subunits(alpha and beta) having a protein backbone to which 1-2 linear tetrapyrrole chromophores are covalently bound.
C-phycocyanin is often found in cyanobacteria which thrive around hot springs, as it can be
stable up to around 70°C, with identical spectroscopic (light absorbing) behaviors at 20 and 70°C. Thermophiles contain slightly different amino acid sequences making it stable under these higher conditions. Molecular weight is around 30,000 Da. Stability of this
protein invitro at these temperatures has been shown to be substantially lower. Photo-spectral analysis of the protein after 1 min exposure to 65°C conditions in a purified state
demonstrated a 50% loss of tertiary structure.
KINGHERBS's phycocyanin is from spirulina.
Phycocyanin is an phycobiliprotein. Many of the dietary and therapeutic attributes of
spirulina come from phycocyanin.
Phycocyanin is the pigment that gives the blue-green algae the "blue" tonality.
Functions:
1. Anti-inflammatory and antihyperalgesic.
2. Neuroprotective and terapeutic against brain stroke.
3. Hepato-protective, renal-protective and thymic-protective.
4. Antibacterial activity.
5. A natural pigment in the food and cosmetic industries.
6. A fluorescent pigment for medical uses.
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