Evaluation of different extraction methods for phycocyanin extraction from Spirulina platensis

C-Phycocyanin is a natural pigment that has several applications in food and cosmetic industry. Recent studies have also revealed the medicinal effects of this natural blue dye. In this study, Comparison effect of mechanical (freezing and thawing, sonication and bead milling) along with chemical (inorganic acid, buffers and sea salt) extraction methods were carried out on C-Phycocyanin concentrations to achieve the optimum conditions of phycocyanin extraction from Spirulina platensis . Our result authenticated that repeating temperature cycles obtained higher phycocyanin concentration which could observed clearly by unaided eye. The optimum condition for extraction is freezing and thawing method under -۲۰ °C condition in five repeated cycles in comparison with liquid nitrogen at the same condition. The best solvent was determined sea salt solution then distilled water, PBS and TE buffer, respectively. Under optimize condition phycocyanin was extracted with a concentration of ۰.۲۹ mg/ml and purity ratio (A۶۲۰/A۲۸۰) of ۳.۴۲.

Keywords:

Spirulina , C-phycocyanin , freeze-thaw extraction , sonication , solvent