Extraction and characterization of phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis and evaluation of its anticancer, antidiabetic and antiinflammatory effect.

The phycocyanin was purified by Sephadex- G-100 and RP-HPLC and protein content was found to be 52.82% and the high purity fraction was collected and RP-HPLC analysis of fractionated phycocyanin, the α-subunit and β-subunit were detected in 4.9 and 11.1(mAU). The frequency of peak 1456.26 cm-1 has showed the CH2 bending vibration and the protein amide II band was detected at 1539.20 cm-1 (CO stretching) and 2358.94 cm-1. In 1H NMR analysis, 14 chemical shifts (δ) were observed and signals confirmed namely alkyl halide, alkene, aldehyde proton and carboxylic acid. The in vivo anticancer effect was assessed by MTT assay against HepG-2 cell lines and in vivo antidiabetic effect was carried out through α-amylase and β-glucosidase enzyme inhibition methods. The promising anticancer effect 68% was noticed at the concentration of 500 μg/ml and lower anticancer effect was noticed at the concentration of 100 μg/ml against Hep-G2 cell lines. The α-amylase and β-glucosidase enzyme inhibition of phycocyanin showed dose dependent and maximum inhibition effect at 250 μg/ml. Phycocyanin anti-inflammatory effect such as inhibition of albumin denaturation, antiproteinase, hypotonicity-induced haemolysis and anti-lipoxygenase activities have been recorded maximum level at 500 μg/ml. Phycocyanin have complex structure and high molecular weight with more biomedical applications for drug development.