Wide Range Applications of Spirulina: From Earth to Space Missions

• Published in: Marine drugs Vol. 20; no. 5; p. 299
• Main Authors: Fais, Giacomo, Manca, Alessia, Bolognesi, Federico, Borselli, Massimiliano, Concas, Alessandro, Busutti, Marco, Broggi, Giovanni, Sanna, Pierdanilo, Castillo-Aleman, Yandy Marx, Rivero-Jiménez, René Antonio, Bencomo-Hernandez, Antonio Alfonso, Ventura-Carmenate, Yendry, Altea, Michela, Pantaleo, Antonella, Gabrielli, Gilberto, Biglioli, Federico, Cao, Giacomo, Giannaccare, Giuseppe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 28.04.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Antioxidants; Astronauts; Bacteria; Cyanobacteria; Defence mechanisms; Dietary minerals; Earth orbit; Earth orbits; Fatty acids; Food industry; healthcare; Humans; Immune response; Immunity; Infectious diseases; Lipids; Mars missions; Medicine; medicine applications; Metabolism; Metabolites; Microbiota; microgravity effects; Natural & organic foods; New technology; Ophthalmology; Probiotics; Proteins; Radiation; Review; Space Flight; space missions; Spirulina; Stem cells; Vitamins; medicine applications; Spirulina; microgravity effects; healthcare; space missions
• ISSN: 1660-3397; 1660-3397
• DOI: 10.3390/md20050299

is the most studied cyanobacterium species for both pharmacological applications and the food industry. The aim of the present review is to summarize the potential benefits of the use of Spirulina for improving healthcare both in space and on Earth. Regarding the first field of application, Spirulina could represent a new technology for the sustainment of long-duration manned missions to planets beyond the Lower Earth Orbit (e.g., Mars); furthermore, it could help astronauts stay healthy while exposed to a variety of stress factors that can have negative consequences even after years. As far as the second field of application, Spirulina could have an active role in various aspects of medicine, such as metabolism, oncology, ophthalmology, central and peripheral nervous systems, and nephrology. The recent findings of the capacity of Spirulina to improve stem cells mobility and to increase immune response have opened new intriguing scenarios in oncological and infectious diseases, respectively.