Microalgae Archives - Everflow Global

Chlorophyll Rich Diet for Good health – Reality or…

November 25, 2022December 12, 2022
by everflow

There is a piece of scientific evidence to support the claim that chlorophyll improves hemoglobin. Chlorophyll has a very similar structure to hemoglobin, which is an essential functional part of red blood cells that carries oxygen. Because of this similarity, chlorophyll is thought to contribute to hemoglobin production and increases RBC count in the blood. There are many different ways to get chlorophyll into the body, i.e. through nutritional supplements, vegetable juice, and eating green leafy vegetables.

The research behind chlorophyll improving hemoglobin dates back to the 1930s. Dr. Ann Wigmore, from Boston, was one of the first to suggest that chlorophyll could help improve hemoglobin levels. She noticed that people who ate a lot of dark green leafy vegetables had higher hemoglobin levels. Some laboratory experiments and animal trials also suggest the same. Many other researchers all over the world are trying to find out exactly what triggers hemoglobin production on the consumption of a chlorophyll-rich diet.

source: PharmaTutor.org

Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in plants that is essential to the process of photosynthesis. It absorbs light from the sun and uses it to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. Plants use glucose for energy and release oxygen as a by-product. Chlorophyll is what gives plants their green color. It is also found in algae and cyanobacteria for the same function as that of plants. Apart from photosynthesis chlorophyll also helps to protect plant cells from damage by ultraviolet light called photoinhibition of the cells.

Molecular Structure: The chlorophyll molecule is a large, complex molecule composed of a porphyrin ring. The porphyrin ring of chlorophyll is what gives the molecule its distinctive green color. Its structure includes a long carbon-based “tail” and a large “head” group. The head group contains a magnesium atom at its center.

How Chlorophyll is similar to hemoglobin?

Chlorophyll and hemoglobin both have four pyrrole rings.
Both chlorophyll and hemoglobin have a central metal ion (Mg2+ for chlorophyll, Fe2+ for hemoglobin) that is essential for their function.
The structure of chlorophyll is very similar to that of hemoglobin, with the only major difference being the type of atom that is bonded to the central metal ion.
The chlorophyll molecule is distinctly planar, while hemoglobin is more three–dimensional in structure.
Due to these significant structural similarities, it is considered that chlorophyll must be having a direct contribution to hemoglobin synthesis.
But there are iron-rich plastids (chloroplast) that must be helpful in providing the required iron to the human body on the consumption of green leafy vegetables. Iron is the essential metal ion that actively contributes to hemoglobin production by supplying hemoglobin’s structural component.

Apart from these important health contribution by chlorophyll it also has many other health benefits

Health Benefits of Chlorophyll

ROS (reactive oxygen species) in the human body: Chlorophyll is a potent antioxidant that can neutralize the damaging effects of ROS. ROS (reactive oxygen species) are a group of chemically reactive molecules that contain oxygen. They have been shown to play a role in a number of human diseases, including cancer and heart disease. They can damage cells and contribute to the development of chronic inflammation.

Cancer Treatment: Chlorophyll has been shown to have some cancer-fighting properties. Researchers found that Chlorophyll can form a close bond to carcinogenic chemicals called Aflatoxins. When they bind, the Chlorophyll helps to block the absorption of the Aflatoxins (cancer-causing agents) in the intestines.
It is not yet known if chlorophyll can help treat cancer in people. More research is needed to learn more about this possible treatment. Chlorophyll may also help to protect healthy cells from damage caused by radiation therapy.

Improved digestion: Chlorophyll can help stimulate the production of enzymes that aid in digestion and absorption of nutrients.

Detoxification: Chlorophyll may help to remove toxins and heavy metals from the body. It is often used as a natural detoxifier in supplements and juices.

Boosted immunity: Chlorophyll may help to fight infection and diseases, and boost the immune system. It can also help to reduce inflammation.

Industrial Application of Chlorophyll

In Pharmaceutical

Chlorophyll along with many other medicinal components from Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and silkworm excrement are typically used in medicines.
Application of chlorophyll in foul odor removal: When chlorophyll is applied to foul odors, it acts as a natural deodorizer. This magnesium atom is surrounded by four nitrogen atoms. These nitrogen atoms have a strong affinity for sulfur-containing compounds, which are the main cause of foul odors. When the chlorophyll molecule comes in contact with these sulfur-containing compounds, the nitrogen atoms bind to the sulfur atoms, effectively neutralizing the odor.
Also, Chlorophyll can be used as a natural dye in the pharmaceutical industry. It can be used in color capsules, tablets, and other pharmaceutical products.

Food and Cosmetics

Chlorophyll is a natural colorant that also can be used to add color to food and cosmetics. It is safe and non-toxic and it can be used to create a wide range of colors.
Anti-aging remedy: A gel containing chlorophyll to the skin reduced signs of photoaging, which is aging that results from sun exposure.
Acne treatment: A gel containing chlorophyll helped reduce facial acne and large, visible pores.

In the end, we learned that chlorophyll is basically a photosynthetic color pigment that has some structural similarities with hemoglobin. But, it may not be directly contributing to producing hemoglobin after dietary consumption. Rather, the chloroplast which is a photosynthetic plastid contains a high amount of iron, magnesium, zinc, etc. that must be having a significant role in providing metal ions to animals. Chloroplast is the essential iron-rich plant cell organelle and is important for treating iron deficiency and increasing hemoglobin production. Chlorophyll has always been thought to be the essential component of plants that might have a role in hemoglobin production due to its structural similarities, but scientific evidence is not enough to prove it. Therefore, it can be concluded that not chlorophyll as such but chloroplast whole along with chlorophyll, which helps to treat iron deficiency and improves the production of hemoglobin and red blood cells.

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Algae- Potential Revolutionizer Of The World

November 4, 2022November 22, 2022
by everflow

Water bodies, swamps, slippery footpaths, sewers, etc. all are generally laden with green, slimy growth of algae. Such sites usually remain ignored, and perhaps most of the time algae are eradicated to clean the habitats. Why algae are important? How they evolved? What is their role in nature and why even existed throughout billions of evolutionary years? Many questions are there in curious minds. However, algae had played a significant role in developing the earth’s environment to make it suitable for all living creatures. Nevertheless, they are still doing it.

Algae evolved around 3.5 billion years ago as single-cell autotropic creatures, with the ability to synthesize organic food from inorganic resources. Then it colonized all over the earth and even evolved into the varieties of terrestrial plants we see today. During their colonization, they produced a lot of oxygen that paved the way for the evolution of higher organisms. The oxygen produced was the key component that gave the earth its Ozon layer. Further, it protected all the creatures that evolved after it from lethal sunrays.

What are algae and their types?

Algae originated as a single-cell photosynthetic organism, furthermore evolved to form diverse groups of micro and macro species. Their varieties flourished all over the globe in diversified geographical locations. That includes deep sea, hot water springs, soil, deserted locations, ice glaciers to mountain tops. They thrive in marine as well as freshwater in numerous morphological forms. They are classified as Macroalgae and Microalgae. Macro forms include all the seaweed species that grow very large from a few centimeters to several meters and which are eukaryotic. While microalgae are unicellular or multicellular and prokaryotic as well as eukaryotic. The Department of Botany, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, has given the following divisions of algae classifications.

Bacillariophyta (diatoms),

Charophyta (stoneworts),

Chlorophyta (green),

Chrysophyta (golden),

Cyanobacteria (blue-green),

Dinophyta (dinoflagellates),

Phaeophyta (brown),

and Rhodophyta (red),

*Credit: Macroalgae Illustration by Fiona Osbaldstone/ Country Life*

Human interference in nature’s course

Algae play a major role in sequestering environmental pollutants and maintains the balance in global ecosystems. However, their importance was never recognized until this era of global warming. In the last four centuries, industrialization led to the haphazard utilization of natural resources along with fossil fuels. This liberated tremendous anthropogenic carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases into the environment, which is now a consequence of global warming. The human population failed to limit their desires and never participated significantly to play their role in environmental conservation. Moreover, this has given rise to more complex issues including climate change. Global crises related to freshwater scarcity, food and nutritional security, and breaking the deadliest pandemics are some of those.

Multiple options are put forward to deal with this scenario and comprehensive research is being undertaken to tackle the issues. But, none of it has provided the potential permeant solution. World environmentalists, researchers, public leaders, and economists are working on finding alternative options for sustainable development. Sustainability solutions promise to bring some balance to the above-mentioned world scenario.

How algae will help?

Algal Exploitation has been made for many centuries for a variety of applications for mankind. Oceans are primary in carbon sequestration and algae play a key role in it. Algae-based CO₂ sequestration on an industrial scale has proven to be one of the promising ways to deal with climate change. Apart from this, algae are known for their potential applications in wastewater treatment, food, feed and fodder, biofuels, nutraceuticals, biofertilizers, and pharmaceuticals. This has led to the development of the algal biorefinery concept for biofuel and bio-commodity. Successful implementation of this technology will be a remarkable milestone in the process of overcoming many current global issues. Natural selection always defines the fate of any era. Algae thrived in all, supporting another life form all the way. Hence, algae are nature’s potential key players. Man has an opportunity to sustain and revolutionize his future with the help of algae.

Algal Products

Microalgae for Wastewater Treatment

November 4, 2022December 9, 2022
by everflow

What is Wastewater?

Any water that has been contaminated by human interventions is considered wastewater. Wastewater basically originates from domestic, industrial, commercial, or agricultural applications. It also includes surface runoff or stormwater and any sewer input or sewer infiltration is also referred to as wastewater.

Types of Wastewaters

Sewage: sewage is wastewater that develops and comes from domestically produced wastes like toilets, food, laundry, and other wastes. The contaminants that originated in sewage water are from domestic sewage and suspended and dissolved pollutants.

Non-sewage: Non-sewage refers to all other varieties of wastewater other than sewage. It contains wastewater originating from industrial washing applications, rainwater, stormwater, and industrial effluent. It doesn’t have any additional dangerous pathogens like sewage.

Water Pollutants and their Origin

Pollutants are materials, present in concentrations that could harm creatures (including people, plants, and animals) or exceed environmental quality standards.

Types of Pollutants:

Organic and biological Pollutants: Organic pollution is a type of chemical pollution caused by persistent organic pollutants as they are difficult to remove or degrade once released into the environment, such as Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). Other than organic pollutants biological pollutants originate from biological material that includes liquid manure, sewage treatment sludge, etc.
Inorganic Pollutants: Inorganic pollutants are the compounds of inorganic by-products arising from various industrial applications that include, chemical, pharmaceutical, textiles and dyeing industries, paints, etc. Examples of inorganic metal pollutants are arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, chromium, aluminum, etc.

The major water pollutants are biological matter like feces, and human and animal body fluids containing bacteria, viruses, and parasites. And industrial pollutants include insecticides, pharmaceuticals, plastics, toxic chemicals, fertilizers, and pesticides.

Depending upon the application of industrial products their origin of water contamination can be categorized into centralized and distributed sources. Whereas a point-source contaminant, like a sewage discharge or outfall pipe, enters the water from a single conduit or channel.

So, whatever the source, all type of wastewater requires treatment before releasing it into the natural water body. Most commercial and industrial manufacturing plants strictly need to process their wastewater and recycle it, despite it many continuing to produce untreated wastewater. This leads to an issue of a rise in synthetic compounds in wastewater that is harmful to nature. To remove pollutants from wastewater, effective wastewater treatment solutions are mandatory.

What is Wastewater treatment?

The process of transforming wastewater or used water into water that may be safely released back into the environment is known as wastewater treatment. The methods and procedures utilized to clean up contaminated water are referred to as industrial wastewater treatment.

Conventional Ways of Wastewater Treatment

Primary (or Physical) Treatment: To remove any suspended sand particles from wastewater, a physical procedure (Sedimentation, Aeration, and Filtration) is used. Wastewater’s velocity is decreased to allow all of the suspended particles to fall to the ground as a result of gravity. The settling substance is referred to as sludge or bio soil.
Secondary (or Biological) Treatment: It is a biological process (Aerobic, Anaerobic, and Composing) that uses bacteria, algae, and microorganisms to take up the organic material in the wastewater. All of the organic contaminants are consumed by microbes, who then transform them into carbon dioxide, water, or energy for their further development or as byproducts.
Tertiary (or Chemical) Treatment: The pollutants or biological agents mostly pathogens that remain after secondary treatment are treated in tertiary treatment. Use of oxidizing agents like Chlorine liquid, Ozon gas, and UV rays, that kill most of the pathogen and make water free of pathogenic contamination. Through the employment of stronger and more sophisticated treatment systems, wastewater effluent is made even cleaner during this treatment process.

Conventional wastewater treatments eliminated major pollutants but they are unable to remove dissolved nutrients and toxic metals. This wastewater also contains nitrogen, phosphorus, ammonia, and bacteria. This often acts as a source of NPK contamination in a local water body. These pollutants lead to the eutrophication of waterbody once released into the environment which deteriorates the local water ecosystem.

Additionally, the traditional wastewater treatment method now has many drawbacks. Including increased chemical needs, high maintenance costs, sludge disposal issues, higher space and energy needs, and degradability issues. Therefore finding additional or even alternative options with conventional methods is very essential.

Why Microalgae for Wastewater Treatment?

Credit: Euronews Next

In order to handle wastewater treatment ponds naturally and economically, natural methods like employing microalgae cultures are now being studied. In terms of its capacity to remove NPK nutrients, coliform bacteria, and heavy metals, the microalgal approach competes favorably with conventional treatments. Microalgae are so effective at absorbing pollutants that other bacterial species can’t do. Microalgal species like Chlorella, Scenedesmus, Nannochloropsis, Phormedium, Botryococcus, Synechocystis, Spirogyra, etc., are well known for their effective wastewater treatment abilities.

Microalgae, serve as an indicator of water quality, with some strains proliferating in polluted water while others thrive in unpolluted water. Also, Algae can be used in wastewater treatment for a range of purposes. Some of these are used for the removal of coliform bacteria, reduction of both chemical and biochemical oxygen demand, and also removal of heavy metals.

Bio-treatment with microalgae is particularly attractive because of their photosynthetic capabilities, converting solar energy into useful biomasses and incorporating polluting NPK nutrients. Wastewater treatment by microalgae generates biomass. It could be utilized for developing various other products, such as fertilizers and biofuels.

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Microalgae – Secret to Strong Immunity by Celebrities

October 31, 2022November 1, 2022
by everflow

The trend towards microalgae-based foods has been spreading since the last decade. The reason is that such products are loved and promoted by many celebrities worldwide. In 2018, frontiers published a mini-review on “Trends in Microalgae Incorporation Into Innovative Food Products With Potential Health Benefits.” In this report, Martin P. Caporgno and Alexander Mathys discussed the importance of microalgae for food and nutrition security. They also highlighted their potential health benefits.

To discuss from the immunity perspective, understanding the human immune system is essential. Immunity is the inner strength of a person’s body to fight against disease or disease-developing conditions. Scientifically various immunity-specific (inner cellular) and nonspecific (physical) components plan and execute resistance power. They help the biological system recognize, avoid, and fight against a foreign entity. These immunity-specific and nonspecific components are essential to determine how strong is the immune power of that person.

How immunity is developed?

The origin of immunity development determines two basic types of immunities – Innate and Adaptive immunity. Innate immunity – the primary type employed by the genetic makeup and lifestyle of the person. This affects internal and external, specific and nonspecific components. Adaptive immunity – By natural as well as artificial means the person’s body acquires this immunity. This helps to develop more strength in passive or active mode.

The actual physical strength of the person lies in his/her innate immunity, which is the first line of defense. This keeps his/her body strong in all kinds of disease-causing conditions. Good nourishment, good habits, and regular exercise help to develop good innate immunity. Above mentioned components are quite essential for the natural development of the body and to maintain good health. The one component which exerts a major impact on all of them is a healthy and nutritious diet.

Importance of a healthy diet and how microalgae can boost immunity?

One’s diet nourishes with all the nutritional components required for good immunity. Whatever any person eats ultimately plays an important role in developing a good immune system. On average, a person’s whole-day meal contains grains, fruits, meat, dairy products, green leafy vegetables, dry fruits, pulses, etc. This all may provide a sufficient amount of carbs, proteins, fibers and vitamins, minerals, etc. The question is, is it what all require to develop good immunity?

To maintain overall health, the body requires some essential nutritional components. Such components include bioactive, growth factors, essential amino acids, and essential fatty acids. Nutritional health supplements and a special diet provide with necessary additional nutrients. Commercial health supplements add an individual or combination of these nutrients to their formulation. There are essential nutrients in extracts from plants, vegetables, or other natural sources. A regular diet can’t provide these nutrients.

It is possible to obtain many of these essential dietary supplements by consuming whole microalgal biomass. The bioactive compounds present in microalgal biomass promote antioxidative, antihypertensive, immunomodulatory, anticancerogenic, hepato-protective, and anticoagulant activities.

Essential Microalgal Nutrients

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are known for their importance in the early stages of embryonic and child development, lactating maternal health, and cardiovascular function. Being an integral part of cell membranes, omega -3 fats affect the function of the cell receptors in cell membranes throughout the body tissues. This leads to the cascade reaction of proteins for making hormones that regulate blood clotting, contraction, and relaxation of artery walls, inflammation, and even gene regulation. Fishes are the major source of these components. But in reality, microalgae and phytoplankton are the original sources from where fishes also obtain these nutrients.

Beta Glucan extracted from Euglena gracilis, boosts immunity by training the immunity cells for quick response against pathogens. Natural pigments extracted from microalgae are other essential supplements. They serve as the best source of antioxidant proteins (Like, Astaxanthin, Phycobiliprotein), Chlorophyll, iron, and minerals. These components take part in the direct and indirect improvement of the immune system. Currently marketed microalgae products are Spirulina and Chlorella dried whole biomass powder and tablets as protein and bioactive-rich superfoods. The extracted pure single component also has multiple applications in the food industry and nutraceuticals to improve the human diet. Hence microalgae are explored for various nutritional applications proving that this is going to be the food of the future.