Nutritional values of Spirulina platensis biomass cultivated in East Africa

Paper Details

Research Paper 01/06/2020
Views (566) Download (20)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Nutritional values of Spirulina platensis biomass cultivated in East Africa

Feven Tezera, Musa Chacha, Mary John, Jofrey Raymond
Int. J. Biosci.16( 6), 121-128, June 2020.
Certificate: IJB 2020 [Generate Certificate]

Abstract

Spirulina platensis is a biomass of cyanobacteria traditionally used for hundred years worldwide for its nutritional and pharmacological benefits. So far, this microscopic organism has not undergone many scientific studies in East Africa. Therefore, evaluating its nutritional properties could help to justify its potential and promote its utilization in the region. In this study, the determination of vitamins was performed by using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method.  Analysis of minerals and heavy metals was performed by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The protein content of Spirulina platensis was determined by using the Kjeldahl method. The spectrophotometry method was used for phytochemical analysis. The results showed that the vitamin A, vitamin B9 and vitamin B12 content of Spirulina platensis was 27.4 g/100g, 246.89 g/100g, and 3.87 g/100g respectively. Concentrations of iron, zinc, calcium, and phosphorous in spirulina platensis were found to be 82.2 mg/100g, 85.1 mg/100g, 1300 mg/100g, and 600 mg/100g respectively. The protein content of spirulina platensis was 46 g/100g. The concentrations of total phenolic and total flavonoid in spirulina platensis found to be 2.99 mg GAE/g and 1.92 mg QE/g respectively. These data indicated that the nutrient concentration of spirulina platensis is enough to meet the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of most essential nutrients. Mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic contents of spirulina platensis was 0.000036 mg/kg, 0.0047 mg/kg, 0.00048 mg/kg and 0.0047 mg/kg respectively. All the analyzed heavy metals were within the recommended EU safety limits. Our findings confirmed the nutritional potential of Spirulina platensis cultivated in East Africa. Thus, Spirulina platensis could be considered as a potential alternative source of sustainable nutrition to address malnutrition in the region.

VIEWS 38

Al-Dhabi NA, Arasu MV. 2016. Quantification of Phytochemicals from Commercial Spirulina Products and Their Antioxidant Activities. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 1-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7631864

Caporgno MP, Mathys A. 2018. Trends in Microalgae Incorporation into Innovative Food Products with Potential Health Benefits. Frontiers in Nutrition 5, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2018.00058

Chandra S, Khan S, Avula B, Lata H, Yang MH, Elsohly MA, Khan IA. 2014. Assessment of Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Content, Antioxidant Properties, and Yield of Aeroponically and Conventionally Grown Leafy Vegetables and Fruit Crops: A Comparative Study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2014, 1-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/253875

Dillon JC, Phuc AP, Dubacq JP. 1995. Nutritional Value of the Alga Spirulina. Plants in Human Nutrition 77, 32-46.

Fatemeh L, Mohsen D. 2016. Effects of Environmental Factors on the Growth, Optical Density, and Biomass of the Green Algae Chlorella Vulgaris in Outdoor Conditions. Journal of Applied Science and Environmental Management 20, 133-139.

García JL, De Vicente M, Galán B. 2017. Microalgae, old sustainable food, and fashion nutraceuticals. Microbial Biotechnology 10, 1017-1024. https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.12800

Gutiérrez-Salmeán G, Fabila-Castillo L, Chamorro-cevallos G, Arthrospira D. 2015. Nutritional and toxicological aspects of Spirulina (Arthrospira). Nutrition Hospitalaria 23, 34-40. https://doi.org/10.3305/nh.2015.32.1.9001

Habib M, Parvin H, Huntington TC, Hasan MR. 2008. A review on culture, production, and use of spirulina as food for humans and feeds for domestic animals. In FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular (1034).

Karkos PD, Leong SC, Karkos CD, Sivaji N, Assimakopoulos DA. 2011.  Spirulina  in  Clinical Practice: Evidence-Based Human Applications. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2011, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1093/ecam/nen058

Kay RA, Barton LL. 2009. Microalgae as food and supplement.  Critical  Reviews  in  Food  Science  and Nutrition 30, 555-573. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10408399109527556

Khan MI, Shin JH, Kim JD. 2018. The promising future of microalgae: Current status, challenges, and optimization of a sustainable and renewable industry for biofuels, feed, and other products. Microbial Cell Factories 17, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12934-018-0879-x

Ma G, Jin Y, Piao J, Kok F, Guusje B, Jacobsen E. 2005. Phytate, Calcium, Iron, and Zinc contents and their molar ratios in foods commonly consumed in China. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 53, 10285-10290.

Mæhre HK, Dalheim L, Edvinsen GK, Elvevoll EO, Jensen I. 2018. Protein Determination- Method Matters. Foods 7, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods7010005

Norhaizan ME, Faizadatul AW. 2009. Determination of Phytate, Iron, Zinc, Calcium Contents, and Their Molar Ratios in Commonly Consumed Raw and Prepared Food in Malaysia. Malaysia Journal of Nutrition 15, 213-222.

Mohan A, Misra N, Srivastav D, Umapathy D, Kumar S. 2014. Spirulina- the Nature’s Wonder: A Review. Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Sciences 2, 1334-1339.

Naidu KA, Sarada R, Manoj G, Khan MY. 1999. Toxicity Assessment of Phycocyanin – A Blue Colorant from Blue Green Alga Spirulina platensis. Food Biotechnology 13, 51-66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08905439609549961

Neumann U, Derwenskus F, Gille A, Louis S, Schmid-Staiger U, Briviba K, Bischoff SC. 2018. Bioavailability and Safety of Nutrients from the Microalgae Chlorella vulgaris, Nannochloropsisoceanica, and Phaeodactylumtricornutum in C57BL/6 Mice. Nutrients 10, 965-981. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10080965

Nguyen P, Grajeda R, Melgar P, Marcinkevage J, Flores R, Ramakrishnan U, Martorell R. 2012. Effect of Zinc on Efficacy of Iron Supplementation in Improving Iron and Zinc Status in Women. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism 2012, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/216179

Rossander-Hult L, Brune M, Sandstr B. 1991. Competitive inhibition of iron absorption and zinc in humans. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 54, 152–156.

Saha SK, Murray P. 2018. Exploitation of Microalgae Species for Nutraceutical Purposes: Cultivation Aspects. Fermentation 4, 46-57 https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation4020046

Sami R, Li Y, Qi B, Wang S, Zhang Q, Han F, Jiang L. 2014. HPLC Analysis of Water-Soluble Vitamins (B2, B3, B6, B12, and C) and Fat-Soluble Vitamins (E, K, D, A, and -Carotene) of Okra (Abelmoschusesculentus). Journal of Chemistry 2014, 1-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/831357

Steponënienë L, Tautkus S. 2006. Determination of zinc in plants and grains  by atomic  absorption spectrometry. Chemija 3, 3-6.

Wells  ML,  Potin  P,  Craigie  JS,  Raven  JA, Merchant SS, Helliwell KE, Brawley SH. 2017. Algae  as  nutritional  and  functional  food  sources: revisiting  our  understanding.  Journal  of  Applied Phycology 29, 949–982. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-016-0974-5