Research · Systematic review
C-phycocyanin: a biliprotein with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects
Romay et al. · 2003 · Current Protein & Peptide Science
Key finding
Phycocyanin (PC), spirulina's primary pigment, demonstrated potent free-radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory (COX-2 inhibition), and neuroprotective properties across multiple in-vitro and animal models. PC selectively scavenges hydroxyl radicals and peroxyl radicals.
Why this matters for consumers
This review is foundational for understanding why phycocyanin content matters as a quality marker. Higher PC means more of the most bioactive fraction of spirulina — which explains why producing at low temperature (to preserve PC) is a genuine quality differentiator.
Study limitations
Primarily in-vitro and animal data; human bioavailability of intact phycocyanin after digestion remains incompletely characterised.
Related studies
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Kalafati et al. · 2010
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Cingi et al. · 2008
Anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory effects of spirulina in obese adults
Park et al. · 2008
Spirulina supplementation improves lipid profile and oxidative stress in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Ismail et al. · 2015
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