Isolation, characterization and antioxidative activity of C-phycocyanin from Limnothrix sp. strain 37-2-1.

ABSTRACT: C-phycocyanin (C-PC) is a blue colored accessory photosynthetic pigment found in cyanobacteria. Some of the medicinal properties of Spirulina have been attributed to this pigment, which includes anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity. We have screened cyanobacteria isolated from freshwater habitats in Florida for their high content of C-PC. Of 125 strains tested, one filamentous strain identified as Limnothrix sp. was selected for further research. This strain produced 18% C-PC of total dry biomass. Here we describe a simple method for obtaining C-PC of high purity without the use of ion exchange chromatography. The procedure is based on pigment precipitation from the cell lysate with an appropriate concentration of ammonium sulfate, then purification with activated carbon

SUBMITTER: Gantar M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3513924 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature