Extraction Of Phycocyanin From Spirulina Plantesis Using Sonication

Research Article
Carol D’souza., Pradeep H.N and Chetan A Nayak
DOI: 
http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijrsr.2018.0907.2369
Subject: 
science
KeyWords: 
Phycocyanin, spirulina plantesis, extraction, purification, sonication.
Abstract: 

Spirulina platensis is found to be a good source of the phycobiliprotein, Phycocyanin (PC) and is commonly used as a dietary supplement and exhibits various pharmaceutical properties. In the current study, a simple efficient method for extracting PC from Spirulina platensis powder is described. This was done by means of two methods: sonication (using water and Na-Phosphate Buffer) and homogenization method. Extraction using sonication by water proved to be an efficient method. Crude PC obtained was purified using activated charcoal and chitosan, to go along with ammonium sulphate precipitation. Concentration of Phycocyanin yield varied from 0.24 mg/mL to 0.38 mg/mL, whereas extract purity varied from 0.5 to 0.8. Final product was lyophilized to obtain dry powder form of Phycocyanin. Characterization was carried out by performing SDS PAGE which confirmed the molecular mass by observing the bands at 16 kDa for the