Utility of fatty acid profile and in vitro immune cell activation for chemical and biological standardization of Arthrospira / Limnospira

Commercially cultivated Limnospira (species formerly classified to genus Arthrospira ) is a popular food/supplement consumed by millions of people worldwide for health benefits. The objective of the current research was to advance the standardization technology for Limnospira . Quantitative methods were established to detect fatty acids as potential chemical markers and immune-enhancing activity. Analysis of 20 different batches of biomass obtained from one commercial grower demonstrated that there was a statistically significant relationship between the sum of two fatty acids (linoleic and γ-linolenic) and Toll-like receptor (TLR)2/TLR1-dependent activation ( R 2 = 0.48, p = 0.0007). Investigation of 12 biomass samples sourced from growers in 10 different countries demonstrated that fatty acid content was again significantly correlated with biological activity ( R 2 = 0.72, p = 0.0005) and the content of fatty acids varied by twofold and activity by 12.5-fold. This large variation between different samples confirms the need to use the present standardization methods to ensure consistent and properly characterized biomass for consumers and for future scientific research.