Compositional guideline: Arthrospira platensis
Definition
Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) is a photosynthetic, filamentous, spiral-shaped, multicellular cyanobacterium. A.platensis powder consists of whole, dry cells of A.platensis.
| Test | Requirements | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | A fine uniform powder, dark blue-green colour with mild seaweed taste, with no decayed or bitter taste or smell | Visual |
Identity
|
Complies with authenticated reference specimen
|
Literature method× GC+ |
| Protein | 55.0-70.0% on a dried basis | BP* |
| Iron | 550-1800 mg/kg | BP/AAS |
| β-carotene | 700-2000 mg/kg | HPLC |
| Chlorophyll | 9-15 g/kg | UV |
| Moisture | Less than 8.0% | BP |
| Ash | Not MoreThan (NMT) 12% m/m | BP |
| Total heavy metals | NMT 10 parts per million (ppm) | BP |
| Lead | NMT 2.5 ppm | BP |
| Cadmium | NMT 0.5 ppm | BP |
| Arsenic | NMT 1.0 ppm | BP |
| Mercury | NMT 0.05 ppm | BP |
| Microbial requirements | According to TGAL guidelines# | # |
| Foreign matter | NMT 2% | Ph Eur test 2.8.2 |
| × Tomaselli L, in Vonshak A (1997) Spirulina platensis (Arthrospira) Physiology, Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Spirulina platensis (Arthrospira) Taylor and Francis. + Cohen Z and Nonshak A (1990) Fatty acid composition of spirulina and spirulina - like cyanobacteria in relation to their chemotaxonomy Phytochemistry Vol 30 No 1 pp 205-206 1991 ¢ Falquet (1997) The Nutritional Aspects of Spirulina, translated by Thompson DH from original paper: Falquet J (1996) Spiruline Aspects Nutritionnels ,Genève, Antenna Technologie # Finished products incorporating this substance must comply with the specific microbial limits detailed in the TGAL guidelines * British Pharmacopoeia |
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