Abstract
The amino acid composition of the blue-green algaSpirulina platensis was determined and compared with other algal, vegetable and animal protein sources. The alga with 58·5% protein is rich in lysine and tryptophan, but deficient in sulphur containing amino acids. Of the three species ofSpirulina, S. platensis has a higher content of sulphur containing amino acids. The PER of this alga is much higher than that of other algae likeChlorella andScenedesmus.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anonymous 1975Spirulina. In: Under-exploited tropical plants with promising economic values;Natl. Acad. Sci. Wash. pp. 162–168
AOAC 1965Official Methods of Analysis of the Assoc. Official Agricl. Chemists. (ed. W Horowtiz) Washington Ed. 10.
Arnon D I 1938 Microelements in culture solution experiments with higher plants;Am. J. Bot. 25 322–25
Becker W E, Venkataraman L V and Khanum P M 1976 Digestibility coefficient and biological value of the proteins of the algaScenedesmus acutus processed by different methods;Nutr. Rep. Int. 14 457
Burton K 1956 A study of the conditions and mechanisms of the diphenylamine reaction for the colorimetric estimation of deoxyribonucleic acid;Biochem. J. 62 315–323
Clement G, Giddey C and Menzi R 1967 Amino acid composition and nutritional value of the algaSpirulina maxima;J. Sci. Fd. Agr. 18 497–501
Combs G F 1952 Algae (Chlorella) as a source of nutrients for the chick;Science 116 453
Eggum B O 1968 Aminosyrekoncentration proteinkvalitet;Stougaarda Forlag, Kobenhauvn 9
Eggum B O 1970 Current methods of nutritional protein evaluation In: Improving plant protein by nuclear techniques;Proc. Symp. IAEA/FAO, Vienna pp. 289–302
Farrar W V 1966 Tecuitlatl, a glimpse of Azetec food technology;Nature (London) 211 341–342
FAO/WHO 1973 Energy and protein requirements;Rept. Joint FAO/WHO Nutrition Rept. FAO Rome Ser. 52
IARI 1971 Recent research on the improvement of protein and nutritive properties of food and feed plants;Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Res. Bull. No. 6 p. 116
Jacobson L 1951 Maintenance of iron supply in nutrient solutions by a single addition of ferric potassium ethylenediamine tetracetate;Plant Physiol. 26 411–413
Kihlberg R 1972 The microbe as a source of food;Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 26 427–466
Leonard J 1966 The 1964–65 Belgian trans-Saharan expedition;Nature 209, 126–128
Mauron J 1973 The analysis of food proteins, amino acid composition and nutritive value. InProteins in human nutrition (eds.) J W G Porter and B A Rolls (London: Academic Press) pp. 139–154
Mejbaum W 1939 Estimation of small amounts of pentose especially in derivatives of adenylic acidZ. Physiol. Chem. 258 117–120
Osborne T B, Mendel L B and Ferry B L 1919 A method of expressing numerically the growth promoting value of proteins;J. Biol. Chem. 37 223
Priestley G 1975 Algal proteins. In:Food from wastes (eds.) G G Birch, K J Parker and J T Worgan,Appl Sci. Pub., England pp. 114–138
Rao D L N and Venkataraman G S 1980 Growth potential ofSpirulina platensis on animal wastes;Curr. Sci. 49 478
Seshadri C V, Thomas S, Manoharan R, Jeeji Bai N and Raja G 1980 Mass culture ofSpirulina platensis; MCRC Monographs Ser. No. 5 pp. 1–61
Soeder C J 1970 Aspects for the use of microalgae in feeding humans and animals;Ber. Dtsch. Bot. Ges. 83 607–625
Tulaganov A T and Zarinov I Z 1974 Application of biomass ofSpirulina in poultry. InProc. Conf. Microbiologists, Algologists and Mycologists, 50th Ann. Uzbeck Rep. USSR; Fan Uzbeck SSR, Tashkant pp. 125–126
Venkataraman G S 1979a Indian experience with algal ponds;Food and Nutrition, UNU Suppl. 2 68–71
Venkataraman G S 1979b All India Coordinated Project on Algae;AICPA Annual Report 1978–79, New Delhi pp. 1–119
Venkataraman G S 1980 All India Coordinated Project on Algae.AICPA Annual Report 1979–80, New Delhi pp. 1–128
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rao, D.L.N., Venkataraman, G.S. & Duggal, S.K. Amino acid composition and protein efficiency ratio (PER) ofSpirulina platensis . Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 90, 451–455 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03052943
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03052943