A simple method for efficient extraction and purification of C-phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis Geitler.

Phycocyanin is a major light harvesting accessory pigment of red algae and cyanobacteria. In the light of its many commercial applications in food and pharmaceutical industry, purity of the pigment plays a major role. Pharmaceutical industry demands a highly pure phycocyanin with A620/280 ratio of 4 and food industry a ratio of 2. In the present study phycocyanin was extracted in sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7) after macerating in liquid nitrogen. The crude phycocyanin thus extracted was precipitated with 50% ammonium sulphate, purified by dialysis and finally by gel filtration chromatography. Pure phycocyanin was finally obtained with an A620/A280 value of 4.98.