International Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Authors
Monica J, Dr. Gowri Neelima M, Dr. Suneetha P, Dr. Jolitha AB, Kushalatha M

Abstract
Phycocyanin, a dietary supplement is a major light harvesting accessory pigment of algae Spirulina plantensis due to its high protein content. The intense blue pigment has wide commercial applications in food and pharmaceutical industry. Due to its fluorescent property, phycocyanin is required in small quantities in immunoassay. In the current investigation different extraction and fractional purification methods were compared in order to optimize for the industrial production of phycocyanin pigment. Extraction was carried out by 3 different methods: (a) Solvent method using water and 0.1M Sodium Phosphate buffer pH-7.0, (b) Freeze- thaw method and (c) lysozyme mediated method. Various methods used for purification of C-Phycocyanin are heat denaturation method, methanol precipitation method, ace tone precipitation method and silica adsorption. Extraction using water (10%) as solvent showed highest yield of 53.82%, 0.5% purity and 5.83g/ml phycocyanin concentration extract. The Silica precipitate method showed a greater fractionization of pigment yielding 64.3% with 6.4 g/ml PC content, 0.14% purity and increased protein concentration of 150mcg/ml compared to other purification methods. Amongst all the methods, 10% water with 24 hours of extraction and purification by means of Silica adsorption method was very effective and efficient method optimized for C-PC by considering C-PC %purity, yield and pigment protein concentration.