Physicochemical Evaluation of Edible Cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis Collected from the South Atlantic Coast of Morocco: A Promising Source of Dietary Supplements

Abstract

The cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis (A. platensis)—a genus of nonheterocystous filamentous cyanobacteria—is used in industrial applications and as a food supply. The current research work aims to study the physicochemical characteristics of A. platensis indigenous to the Moroccan Atlantic coast at Laayoune (Foum El Oued lagoon). The contents of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, lipids, minerals, heavy metals, energy value, humidity, ash, pigments, and tannins in A. platensis were investigated using protocols as described in the earlier literature. The values of protein, carbohydrate, and lipid contents in A. platensis were 58.9 ± 0.07, 14.67, and 45.54% respectively. The values of vitamins B2 and B3 dosed in A. platensis were 1.31 ± 0.19 and 30.8 ± 0.001 mg/kg, respectively. The values of heavy metals including lead and chromium were 70 ± 4.5 and 5 ± 0.5 PPB (parts-per-billion), respectively; however, no trace concerning cadmium was detected. The values of energy value, humidity, and ash content were 346.48 ± 0.21, 11.6 ± 0.17%, and 9.1 ± 0.21% kcal/100 g, respectively. The results of pigment content showed the presence of chlorophyll b, chlorophyll a, and carotenoids of 37.506 ± 3.38, 26.066 ± 3.08, and 9.52 ± 0.22 mg/g, respectively. The results obtained revealed that A. platensis indigenous to the Moroccan Atlantic coast at Laayoune was found to be very rich in proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, ash, and pigments and lower in heavy metals and saturated fats when compared with species investigated in the literature. Thus, A. platensis indigenous to the Moroccan Atlantic coast at Laayoune fulfills the requirements for being used as dietary supplements.

Characterization of cyanobacterial isolates from freshwater and saline subtropical desert lakes

“…The carbohydrate contents of isolates SN4, Q1, and Q2 (Table 1 ) were higher than those recorded in members of the closest genera Synechococcus (148 mg/g DW), Oscillatoria (186 mg/g DW), and Lyngbya (173 mg/g DW), besides the species, Arthrospira platensis (146.7 mg/g DW), Anabaena sp. (114.6 mg/g DW), Merismopedia tenussima (109.3 mg/g DW), and Spirulina platenesis (50.7 mg/g DW) (Patel et al 2017 ; Cheng et al 2019 ; Issa et al 2020 ; Ennaji et al 2021 ), suggesting suitable sources for carbohydrate-dependent industry, such as bioethanol production. On the other hand, the protein contents of the isolates, SN4, Q1, and Q2 (Table 1 ), were higher than those have been recorded in Anabaena sp.…”

The Health Effects of Dietary Supplements

“…Yarizadeh et al [ 15 ] studied the effects of omega-3 supplementation on resting metabolic rate in a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. On the other hand, edible Cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis collected from the south Atlantic coast of Morocco was studied and proposed as a promised source of dietary supplements [ 16 ].…”