Anti-oxidation properties and therapeutic potentials of spirulina

Spirulina is rich in antioxidants, including proteins, polysaccharide, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, carotenoids, and other bioactive compounds, which impart spirulina strong anti-oxidation properties. Numerous animal studies and clinical trials have proved that spirulina improved a variety of oxidative stress-induced symptoms by enhancing the body's anti-oxidation capacity, such as repairing neuronal injury, suppressing tumor, inhibiting inflammation, improving immunity, alleviating toxicity, improving organ functions, and relieving cardiovascular disease conditions. This paper reviews the anti-oxidation activities of spirulina biomass and its derived products (including extracts and complexes), their relations to alleviating certain health conditions, and their potential as a source of antioxidants for therapeutic applications. The working mechanisms between the anti-oxidation properties of spirulina bioactive compounds and their therapeutic effects in many diseases, especially senile diseases, were discussed. Further research needed to broaden the application of spirulina and its derived products in the health and medicine fields was proposed.