Nostoc sphaeroides Cyanobacteria: a review of its nutritional characteristics and processing technologies

Abstract

Nostoc sphaeroides is an edible Cyanobacterium which has high nutritional value and is widely used in dietary supplements and therapeutic products. N. sphaeroides contains protein, fatty acid, minerals and vitamins. Its polysaccharides, phycobilin, phycobiliproteins and some lipids are highly bioactive. Thus, N. sphaeroides possesses anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation and cholesterol reducing functions. This paper reviews and evaluates the literature on nutritionally and functionally important compounds of N. sphaeroides. It also reviews and evaluates the processing of technologies used to process N. sphaeroides from fresh harvest to dry particulates including pretreatment, sterilization and drying, including their impact on sensorial and nutritional values. This review shows that a suitable combination of ultrasound, radio frequency and pulse spouted microwave with traditional sterilization and drying technologies greatly improves the sensorial and nutritive quality of processed N. sphaeroides and improves their shelf life; however, further research is needed to evaluate these hybrid technologies. Once suitably processed, N. sphaeroides can be used in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical drugs as an ingredient.

Keywords:

• Nostoc sphaeroides
• nutritional characteristics
• bioactive compounds
• bioactive potential
• processing technologies

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledged the support of the Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation (1908085MC79), the Overseas Visiting and Study Program for Outstanding Young Backbone Talents of Anhui Universities (gxgwfx2020056), the Anhui Provincial Science and Technology Major Special Project (202003b06020004), and the Scientific Research Project of Anhui Polytechnic University (Xjky2020062).