Knowledge-Based Firm in Iran Produces Bio-Pigments with Anti-Cancer Properties
“The main activity of our knowledge-based company is processing the spirulina algae. The spirulina algae is cultivated as liquid and powder, and liquid algae is added to the soil as biological fertilizer,” Javad Karimi, the managing director of the knowledge-based company stationed at the science and technology park of Fars province, told ANA.
“The powder of this algae is used as feed for livestock, fish, and even for humans in bodybuilding,” he added.
Karimi described the new and distinctive activity of his company as the extraction of ‘phycocyanin’ pigment, saying, “This pigment has nutritional value and can be used as medicine and actually food supplement. Extracting this pigment from the original material is very important, and our researchers have found that a high percentage of this pigment can be extracted from spirulina algae.”
“The anti-cancer properties of this pigment were also studied in our company and we have gained good results. This pigment is supposed to replace chemical colors, even in cosmetics. Arsenic, lead and cadmium in cosmetics are very dangerous and we were able to produce the pigment biologically to replace them,” he underlined.
Spirulina is a biomass of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) that can be consumed by humans and animals. The three species are Arthrospira platensis, A. fusiformis, and A. maxima.
Cultivated worldwide, Arthrospira is used as a dietary supplement or whole food. It is also used as a feed supplement in the aquaculture, aquarium, and poultry industries.
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