Spirulina

Botanical Overview

Spirulina (Spirulina spp.) is a species in the Oscillatoriaceae family. This species belongs to the Oscillatoriaceae family, a group of flowering plants. Although comprehensive ethnobotanical records are limited, phytochemical studies have identified 22 compounds in this species, suggesting potential medicinal value.

Active Compounds

Phytochemical research has identified 22 compounds in this species, including a diverse array of phytochemical classes (see the Complete Chemical Inventory below for the full list).

The identified compounds include the following categories:

  • Alkaloid: nitrogenous compounds with diverse pharmacological activities

Research Status

Although this species has documented phytochemical constituents, its ethnobotanical and clinical documentation remains incomplete. The limited documentation available for this species represents an opportunity for ethnobotanical research.

ⓘ Information
Information on this page is compiled from Dr. Duke’s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases (USDA ARS), a public domain resource. Consult a healthcare professional before using any herbal preparation.

Complete Chemical Inventory

CompoundFormulaMW
ASCORBIC-ACIDC₆H₈O₆176.12 Da
ASH
BETA-CAROTENEC₄₀H₅₆536.9 Da
CALCIUMCa40.08 Da
CHROMIUMCr51.996 Da
COBALTCo58.93319 Da
FATC₁₆H₃₂O₂256.42 Da
FIBER(CRUDE)
FIBER(DIETARY)
IRONFe55.84 Da
MAGNESIUMMg24.305 Da
MANGANESEMn54.93804 Da
NIACINC₆H₅NO₂123.11 Da
PHOSPHORUSP30.97376200 Da
POTASSIUMK39.0983 Da
PROTEIN
RIBOFLAVINC₁₇H₂₀N₄O₆376.4 Da
SELENIUMSe78.97 Da
SILICONSi28.085 Da
SODIUMNa22.9897693 Da
THIAMINEC₁₂H₁₇N₄OS+265.36 Da
ZINCZn65.4 Da

Data from PubChem (NIH/NLM, public domain).


References & Further Reading

External Research Links

Data Sources