Biomaterial Database

[Production and characteristic constituents of the algae Spirulina platensis and maxima]. 1975

G Clement

Microscopic blue-green Spirulina algae, such as have been consumed since ancient times, are algae having a very high protein content (70 p. 100 of dry matter). At present the Spirulina platensis species in the Kanem region in Chad is gathered by primitive methods, sold in the marketplace and consumed by the local population. The Spirulina maxima species exists in a seminatural state in Mexico City, and an industrial pilot plant harvests and produces one ton per day. Both species, Sp. platensis and maxima, can be cultivated in the same way in a controlled synthetic medium in large-area basins. Whether these Spirulina come from a natural medium or synthetic culture basin, harvesting includes the successive stages of concentration, filtration and washing followed by drying done in a conventional manner. The characteristic constituents of Spirulina platensis and Spirulina maxima, in addition to the high protein content, are both nucleic acids that account for about 4 p. 100 of the dry matter and the fatty-acid composition which is saturated C16 and ethylenic C18 substances. Linoleic acid and especially gamma-linolenic acid arecharacteristic of these two species. The unsaponifiable content is made up in particular of sterols such as cholesterol and beta-sitosterol as well as by triterpenic alcohols such as alpha-amyrin.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008055	Lipids	A generic term for fats and lipoids, the alcohol-ether-soluble constituents of protoplasm, which are insoluble in water. They comprise the fats, fatty oils, essential oils, waxes, phospholipids, glycolipids, sulfolipids, aminolipids, chromolipids (lipochromes), and fatty acids. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Lipid
D008800	Mexico	A country in NORTH AMERICA, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between BELIZE and the UNITED STATES, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the UNITED STATES.
D008903	Minerals	Native, inorganic or fossilized organic substances having a definite chemical composition and formed by inorganic reactions. They may occur as individual crystals or may be disseminated in some other mineral or rock. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed; McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Mineral
D009696	Nucleic Acids	High molecular weight polymers containing a mixture of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides chained together by ribose or deoxyribose linkages.	Nucleic Acid,Acid, Nucleic,Acids, Nucleic
D010940	Plant Proteins	Proteins found in plants (flowers, herbs, shrubs, trees, etc.). The concept does not include proteins found in vegetables for which PLANT PROTEINS, DIETARY is available.	Plant Protein,Protein, Plant,Proteins, Plant
D002241	Carbohydrates	A class of organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a ratio of Cn(H2O)n. The largest class of organic compounds, including STARCH; GLYCOGEN; CELLULOSE; POLYSACCHARIDES; and simple MONOSACCHARIDES.	Carbohydrate
D002596	Chad	A republic in central Africa, east of NIGER, west of SUDAN and south of LIBYA. Its capital is N'Djamena.
D004043	Dietary Fiber	The remnants of plant cell walls that are resistant to digestion by the alimentary enzymes of man. It comprises various polysaccharides and lignins.	Fiber, Dietary,Roughage,Wheat Bran,Bran, Wheat,Brans, Wheat,Dietary Fibers,Fibers, Dietary,Roughages,Wheat Brans
D004044	Dietary Proteins	Proteins obtained from foods. They are the main source of the ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS.	Proteins, Dietary,Dietary Protein,Protein, Dietary
D005523	Food Supply	The production and movement of food items from point of origin to use or consumption.	Food Supply Chain,Chain, Food Supply,Food Supplies,Food Supply Chains,Supplies, Food,Supply Chain, Food,Supply Chains, Food,Supply, Food