Enhancing the quality and antioxidant capacity of phycocyanin extracted from Spirulina platensis PCC 7345: A quality-by-design approach

Background and Objectives: Phycocyanin, a water-soluble blue pigment extracted from cyanobacteria, is used in various industries. Research has explored its health benefits like antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. However, challenges remain in extracting it efficiently and ensuring stability. This study employs a Quality by Design (QbD) approach to extract Phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis PCC 7345, focusing on Target Product Profiles (TPPs) and Critical Quality Attributes (CQAs). Phycocyanin concentration and purity are the primary CQAs, as they significantly impact product quality. The manuscript investigates the application of the Box-Behnken design to achieve consistentcy extraction of phycocyanin. Methods: Risk assessment via Ishikawa diagrams highlights influential factors. A Box Behnken design evaluates Phycocyanin concentration and purity across 15 formulations. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis affirms quality, sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) validates protein structure, and gas chromatography provides additional insights into molecular composition. Antioxidant potential and enzyme inhibitory activities of the extracted Phycocyanin were analyzed. Results: Phycocyanin exhibits superior antioxidant potential, with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 2 '-casino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and Nitric Oxide Scavenging activity being 40.70 mu g/ml, 23.25 mu g/ml, and 17.74 mu g/ml, respectively. The therapeutic potential of phycocyanin can be confirmed with its effectiveness in inhibition of alpha-Amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes in a concentration-dependent manner having IC50 values of 72.24 mu g/ml and 82.45 mu g/ml respectively. Conclusion: The QbD approach ensures quality Phycocyanin extraction. Its antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties indicate a promising role in diverse applications in health management.