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What is Micro Algae?

Algae are among the earth’s most important natural resources; in evolutionary terms algae have existed for 3.8 billion years. They are considered to be one of the first groups of organisms to colonize the earth and have a broad habitat range. In their natural environment they produce more than 60% of the oxygen on the planet through photosynthesis. Micro algae are extremely efficient solar energy converters and they can produce a great variety of metabolites; this capacity and their ubiquitous distribution have led to their exploitation by man for diverse range of purposes

The history of Micro Algae as a stable in human diet is unique; there is evidence that the Aztecs used biomass in the early sixteenth century. It was harvested from lakes in Mexico and made into small bricks that are eaten as cheese would be eaten today. Likewise, dried Micro Algae has been used as food by the Kanembu tribe on the shores of Lake Chad in Central Africa.

Micro Algae is a member of the Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) family; it has a spiral multi-cellular, filamentous structure consisting of proteins and sugar and it contains no cellulose as commonly found in almost all-vegetable matter. All vitamins are found in Micro Algae. Not until the early 1980’s did the modern world turn its attention to the commercial cultivation of Arthrospira. Today Micro Alga  is commercially cultivated in several of the leading countries in the world.

Other uses of Algae

Spirulina the organism

Background:

All microscopic algae, usually unicellular or filamentous, are called microalgae, although this term is not related to taxonomy. By some estimates there are more than 30,000 different species of microalgae. Spirulina is one of the most widespread microalgae on the market. Cyanobacteria (blue-green-algae), like Spirulina, are separated from the algae because of their prokaryotic nature (lack a membrane-bounded nucleus, mitochondria and chloroplasts).

Taxonomy:

Cyanobacteria are one of the most ubiquitous and diverse groups of photosynthetic organisms, and the versatility of their light-harvesting systems has contributed to their ability to proliferate in widely different environments.

Spirulina is classified as part of the Monera Kingdom and member of the cyanobacteria division (Table 1). There are about 2 500 species of cyanobacteria, previously called blue-green-algae. Spirulina Platensis (=Arthrospira Platensis) is multi-cellular, filamentous prokaryotic cyanobacteria. Thus, Spirulina is neither a plant nor animal, but a microscopic photosynthetic bacterium. Cyanobacteria are phototropic microorganisms that carry out oxygenic photosynthesis similar to that of higher plants. However, microalgae have a greater capacity for photosynthesis than higher plants and the capability to metabolise organic carbon sources.

Morphology:

The Cyanobacteria are morphological simple but metabolically complex and diverse organisms. They lack a nuclear membrane (without a true nucleus), and membrane-bound organelles absent, e.g. chloroplasts. Thylakoids (photosynthetic membranes) are not arranged in stacks.

Spirulina is a multi-cellular, filamentous cyanobacterium. Spirulina species have been found in many locations and there have been many variations in size and shape of the trichomes or filaments Under the microscope, Spirulina appears as a blue-green filaments composed of cylindrical cells arranged in un-branched, helicoidally trichomes. Spirulina Platensis has a corkscrew-shape filament (solitary and free-floating; cell length, ~4mm; cell diameter (breath), ~6-9 mm; Spiral diameter, 25-45 mm, distance between spirals ~50 mm) with granular cytoplasm containing gas vacuoles and visible septa.

The most important parameters that may exert an effect on cell morphology are light and temperature. The distance between spirals varies considerably according to the intensity of light. Under high light intensity, the distance can be as little as 10mm; under low light, over 100mm. Spirulina filaments, in which 4 to 8 helical turns occur most frequently, become shorter as temperature declines to lower limit of the temperature response curve.

Table 1: The taxonomic classification of Spirulina (Arthrospira) Platensis

Kingdom	Monera (Prokaryotae)	Morphological simple but metabolically complex and diverse organisms, the bacteria. Lack a nuclear membrane, and membrane-bound organelles absent – cell division through binary fission – cell simply pinches in two.
Sub-kingdom	Eubacteria	‘True bacteria’ All bacteria that are not archaebacteria are Eubacteria.
Division (Phylum)	Cyanobacteria (Cynophyta Cyanophytes) Formerly known as (Blue-green algae)	Photoautorophic bacteria, photoynthesize, but lack chloroplasts. The product of photothesis is glycogen and oxygen released. The cells have no flagellia or any other type of locomotor organelle. Thylakoids (photosynthetic membranes) are not arranged in stacks. Chlorophyll a, d; blue and red Phycobilins, β-carotene, and xanthophylls; storage product, cynophycean starch; The cell wall is a complex, four-layered structure (consisting of mucopeptides, amino sugars, amino acids and proteins). Gram-negative cell walls ~2 500 described species.
Class	Cyanophyceae	Single class in Cyanobacteria; Unicellular or multicellular algae without a true nucleus or chromatophore. Sexual reproduction not known or absent.
Order	Nostocales	Filamentous, with filament and trichome organization, hormogones present; heterocysts, akinetes, endospores, hormocysts present; true branching absent, false branching present.
Family	Oscillatoriaceae	Filamentous (un-branched); producing hormogonia, many showing a spiral movement by rotation along the longitudinal axis; binary fission; no specialized cells, heterocysts and spores absent; ~1 000 species.
Genus	Arthrospira (Spirulina)	Trichomes (filaments) multicellular, cylindrical, without sheath, loosely and regularly coiled (spiralled), usually comparatively short and fewer coils; cross-walls distinct, apices slightly or not all tapering, terminal cell rounded, calyptra absent.
Species	Platensis	Thallus blue-green; trichomes slightly constructed at the cross-walls, 6-8mm broad, not attenuated at the ends or only a little attenuated, more or less regularly spirally coiled; spirals 26-36mm broad, distances between the spirals 43-57 mm; cells nearly as long broad, or shorter than broad, 2-6mm long, cross-walls granulated; end-cells broadly rounded.

GEVA Micro algae powder – Typical analyses report (November, 2005)

Physical Properties (spray-dried biomass) Composition 100 % Spirulina platensis – no fillers Appearance Fine powder Colour Dark green Odour & Taste Mild, resembling sea vegetables Density 0.5 kg/L Particle size 10 - 25 µm in diameter

Overall chemical composition Protein 65 – 70 % Carbohydrates 15 – 20 % Pigments 10 – 15 % Minerals 7 – 13 % Lipids (fatty acids) 6 – 9 % Crude fibre 5 – 8 % Vitamins 3 – 4 % Cholesterol 0 % Energy 16 J/g (3.8 cal/g)

Please note that the RDA shown is for processed or synthetic nutrients, the nutrients in the Geva F Series are not processed nor are they synthetic, but natural nutrients that are perfectly balanced by nature, there is no other equal

Vitamins Per 10 g RDA (EU) % RDA Vitamin A (Retinol) 3.6 mg 800 µg 450 % Beta-carotene (Provitamin A) 15 mg – – Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 0.50 mg 1.4 mg 35 % Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 0.40 mg 1.6 mg 25 % Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) 50 µg 2.0 mg 2.5 % Vitamin B8 (Inositol) 4 mg – – Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) 5 µg 1 µg 500 % Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) 0.5 mg 60 mg 0.8 % Vitamin D (Calciferol) 10 µg 5 µg 200 % Vitamin E (Tocopherol) 1.8 mg 10 mg 18 % Vitamin K (Phylloquinone) 200 µg 120 µg (US) 200 % Biotin (Vitamin B7) 3.0 µg 150 µg 2.0 % Folate (Folic acid) (Vitamin B9) 5 µg 200 µg 2.5 % Niacin (Vitamin B3) 1.4 mg 18 mg 7.7 % Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) 0.10 mg 6 mg 1.6 %

Mineral Per 10 gram RDA* % RDA Calcium (Ca) 60 mg 800 mg 7.5 % Chloride (Cl) 40 mg – – Chromium (Cr) 25 µg 150 µg (US) 17 % Cobalt (Co) 2.5 µg 15 µg (US) 17 % Copper (Cu) 100 µg 1.2 mg 8.3 % Germanium (Ge) 50 µg – – Iron (Fe) 8 mg 14 mg 57 % Magnesium (Mg) 20 mg 300 mg 6.6 % Manganese (Mn) 0.25 mg 2.5 mg (US) 10 % Phosphorus (P) 80 mg 800 mg 10 % Potassium (K) 140 mg 3.5 g 4 % Selenium (Se) 12 µg 75 µg 16 % Sodium (Na) 40 mg – – Sulphur (S) 20 mg – – Zinc (Zn) 0.30 mg 15 mg 2 %

Essential amino acids (All 8) Per 10 g % total Isoleucine 340 mg 5.6 % Leucine 525 mg 8.6 % Lysine 300 mg 4.9 % Phenylalanine 285 mg 4.6 % Methionine 130 mg 2.1 % Threonine 310 mg 5.1 % Tryptophan 95 mg 1.5 % Valine 380 mg 6.2 %

Non-essential amino acid (10 of 12) Per 10 g % total Alanine 470 mg 7.7 % Arginine 430 mg 7.0 % Aspartic acid 600 mg 10.0 % Cystine 65 mg 1.1 % Glutamine acid 880 mg 14.6 % Glycine 320 mg 5.3 % Histidine 100 mg 1.7 % Proline 260 mg 4.3 % Serine 320 mg 5.2 % Tyrosine 280 mg 4.6 %

Lipids (fatty acids) Per 10 gram % of lipids Alpha (a)- linolenic acid (C18)* 0.7 mg 0.16 % Eicosadienoic (C20) (n-6) 1.4 mg 0.31 % Eicosatrienoic (C20) (n-3)* 1.5 mg 0.33 % Gamma (g)- Linolenic acid (C18) 100 mg 22 % Glycolipids 20 mg 4.4 % Lauric acid (C12) 3.5 mg 0.77 % Linoleic (C18: 2 omega 6) 95 mg 21 % Myristic acid (C14) 0.6 mg 0.14 % Myristoleic (C14) 3.7 mg 0.82 % Nervonic acid (C24) 1.6 mg 0.35 % Oleic acid (C18) 12 mg 2.6 % Palmitic acid (C16) 180 mg 40 % Palmitoleic acid (C16) 25 mg 5.5 % Pentadecenoic (C15) 4.2 mg 0.93 % Stearic acid (C18) 7.8 mg 1.7 % Sulfolipids 10 mg 2.2 % Tridecanoic acid (C13) 5.4 mg 1.2 % Vaccenic acid (C18) 2.7 mg 0.6 % Non-identifiable fatty acids 50 mg 11 % Total saturated fatty acids 197 mg 43 % Total mono-unsaturated f. a. 50 mg 11 % Total poly-unsaturated f. a. 200 mg 43.8 % Total omega-6 (n-6) 195 mg 42.7 % *Total omega-3 (n-3) 2.2 mg 0.5 %

Pigment Colour Per 10 gram % of Spirulina Allophycocyanin Blue-green 20 mg 0.2 % Carotenoids (80 % Beta-carotene) Orange 40 mg 0.40 % Chlorophyll-a Green 75 mg 0.75 % Phycocyanin Blue 1 200 mg 12 % Phycoerythrin Red 100 mg 1.0 % Xanthophylls Yellow 20 mg 0.20 %

General:

No cellulose in cell walls, thus easily digestible (digestibility, 83 %).

Free of starch.

Sugar mainly rhamnose, a type of sugar that does not require insulin for metabolism

Glucose, fructose and sucrose only in very small quantities

Glycerol, mannitol and sorbitol also occur.

Polymers: Glucosamine (1.9 %), rhamnosamine (9.7 %) and glycogen (0.5 %).

Micro algae oils are cholesterol free.

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