Asieh Bahrami - Department of Biology, Jahrom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Jahrom, Iran
Samaneh Zolghadri - Department of Biology, Jahrom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Jahrom, Iran
Ehteram Deilami - Department of Biology, Jahrom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Jahrom, Iran

Phycocyanin (PC) is a major light harvesting pigment-protein of cyanobacteria. PC and other phycobiliproteins have many properties in the food industry, cosmetic industry, biotechnology, diagnosis and treatment. There are many methods for phycocyanin extraction such as organic and inorganic acid treatment, freezing and thowing, homogenization and lysozyme treatment. In the present study, optimization, extraction and purification of phycocyanin from wet biomass of Chlorella sp has been reported. Chlorella sp was cultured in BG-11 medium at 25ºC±2.The extraction was carried out using different conditions, including temperature, biomass-solvent ratio and different chemical treatments. Then, glycerol was added to the suspension of algae and placed in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Distilled water and acetate were added to the cell to break down them. Then, the solution was placed in the refrigerator and darkness for two days. Based on the results, the extraction by Sodium acetate 10 mM at 0 °C proved to be the most efficient method. Crude extract of phycocyanin was purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation and dialysis. Pure C-Phycocyanin was finally obtained from Chlorella sp with concentraton of 0.079 mg/ml and purity ratio (A615/A280) of 0.5.

Phycocyanin, Extraction, Cyanobacteria, chlorella sp