Phycocyanin is a blue pigment extracted from spirulina and is a pure natural
Food Coloring. Phycocyanin is one of the rare pigment proteins in nature. It is not only brightly colored, but also a nutritious protein in itself and a good health food. It is the only natural blue pigment approved by the US FDA. The EU has listed phycocyanin as a color food raw material, and its use in food is not restricted. China's GB2760 Food Additive Catalog also allows the use of phycocyanin as a natural colorant. Phycocyanin can also be used as a pharmaceutical health product, cosmetic raw material, biochemical reagent, etc.
Phycocyanin spirulina is a dark blue powder separated from spirulina with beautiful color. It is both a protein and an excellent natural food coloring, and also a good health food. Phycocyanin is an intracellular protein that is separated by breaking spirulina cells and dissolving them into the extract solution for precipitation. Because it is blue after extraction, it is called phycocyanin. Many people will think that phycocyanin is just a natural pigment extracted from spirulina when they hear this, ignoring that phycocyanin contains eight essential amino acids for the human body, and the intake of phycocyanin is of great benefit to the human body.
Food-grade c phycocyanin is an active protein separated and purified from cyanobacteria. It is a rare phycocyanin pigment protein and a natural food pigment allowed by the state. More importantly, studies have shown that phycocyanin can significantly reduce the damage to normal white blood cells in the human body during tumor radiotherapy and chemotherapy, stimulate the colony formation of red blood cells and platelets, improve immunity, and protect liver tissue. It has unique fluorescent properties and good biological efficacy. It has the same properties as protein. The product is blue granules or powder. Soluble in water. Insoluble in alcohol and oil. Organic solvents such as ethanol will cause irreversible denaturation of phycocyanin. The color of its aqueous solution is bright blue. Each phycocyanin monomer is composed of a subunit and b subunit. Its monomer (ab) has a molecular weight of about 40,000 d. It exists in the form of trimer (ab) at pH 6.5-8.0 and hexamer (ab) at pH 4.5-6.0, with a molecular weight of about 230,000 d. Regardless of whether it exists in the form of monomer, trimer or hexamer, it presents a beautiful sapphire color under visible light, with bright color. It has been determined to be quite stable under a variety of physical and chemical factors.
Phycocyanin is a non-organic solvent, and because it is extracted with water, this is the main reason why it is called the safest and most natural blue pigment.
Substances containing edible blue colorants (pigments) are very scarce in nature, and phycocyanin is a component unique to spirulina that can present a bright blue color, and is widely used as a valuable natural edible blue colorant (pigment).
Phycocyanin is a natural phytochemical that is currently attracting attention in the food processing industry.
Phytochemicals are components that plants such as vegetables use to protect themselves from UV damage. They are said to have excellent and useful effects, and are expected to have the same whitening effect in our bodies.
In addition to the five essential nutrients for the human body (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals), dietary fiber is called the sixth nutrient. In recent years, phytochemicals have attracted attention as the "seventh nutrient".
Characteristics of Phycocyanin
The hue is bright blue with a slight blue fluorescence.
Compared with the blue of gardenia, the blue of spirulina is very bright and vivid.
The product form is powder and liquid.
How to Use Phycocyanin?
Generally, it is added to food at a ratio of 0.01~0.1%.
The best time to add it is below 60°C after the heating process.
Properly mixed with food pigments such as red and yellow, it can produce intermediate colors such as purple and yellow-green.
Recent research has focused on the practicality of phycocyanin.
Through human clinical trials using this product, it has been confirmed that phycocyanin can effectively enhance the skin's barrier function (moisturizing power) and protect skin moisture.
Application of Phycocyanin
The application research of phycocyanin is very common and can be summarized as follows:
(1) Natural food pigment: blue spirulina is a water-soluble pigment, pure blue, clear and lovely, and can be used as a food colorant and cosmetic additive. It is also a very rich protein.
(2) Medical and health food: Phycocyanin in vitro experiments have shown that it can stimulate the formation of red blood cell colonies, similar to erythropoietin (EPO). Phycocyanin can help regulate the synthesis of many important enzymes needed by the human body, and plays an important role in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. It can also regulate the human immune system, enhance the function of the immune system, and improve the body's resistance to disease.
(3) Cosmetics: Phycocyanin is a collagen-like protein with antioxidant, moisturizing, anti-allergic, and freckle removal effects.
(4) Special reagents for biological, chemical, and cytological experiments: Phycocyanin is blue and fluorescent, and can be used as a research reagent for some photodynamics in biology and cytology. It can also be used as a biochemical marker.
Phycocyanin - Application examples as a natural colorant.
Phycocyanin spirulina is a natural blue colorant that can be used in a variety of foods.
Frozen candies: ice cream, popsicles, gelato, etc.
Candies: jelly, cakes, chewing gum, soft candy, candy, chocolate, etc.
Beverages: soft drinks, smoothies, alcohol, cocktails, etc.
Japanese desserts: wagashi, dango, bean paste, agar jelly, etc.
Baked candies: biscuits, muffins, donuts, etc.
Others: frosted bread, sushi rolls, noodles, wasabi, etc.
