Jaiswal Jyoti, Singh Ashish P, Sinha Rajeshwar P
Laboratory of Photobiology and Molecular Microbiology, Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.
Laboratory of Photobiology and Molecular Microbiology, Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.
Anal Biochem. 2025 Nov;706:115953. doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2025.115953. Epub 2025 Aug 4.
C-phycocyanin is a natural blue-colored pigment-protein complex existing as phycobiliprotein in cyanobacteria. C-phycocyanin is made up of two different subunits of α- and -β monomers. These subunits assemble to form a cylindrical structure known as phycocyanobilin chromophore. In the present study, C-phycocyanin was purified from the cyanobacterium Spirulina subsalsa HKAR-19 using ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation methods and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. The purified C-phycocyanin showed an absorption peak at 615 nm. A characteristic fluorescence emission peak at 642 nm when excited over 615 nm, indicates the integrity and functionality of protein structure. The scavenging activity against free radicals of DPPH, ABTS, and superoxide (O·) was evaluated by using free radical scavenging assays. C-phycocyanin showed dose-dependent in vitro antioxidative properties towards free radicals. It possesses higher antioxidant activity toward ABTS and DPPH. Due to its high antioxidant activity, it can be used as a colorant and therapeutic agent against oxidative stress.
