Comparative Biochemical Analysis of Spirulina Platensis Grown in Zarrouk's Medium and Cow Dung-Based Medium

Abstract

Spirulina  platensis is a nutritionally important cyanobacterium widely recognized for its high-value bioactive compounds, including proteins, amino acids, pigments, carbohydrates, essential minerals, and antioxidant molecules. The present study aimed to evaluate the biochemical composition and nutritional quality of S. platensis cultivated under different culture conditions using Zarrouk’s medium and an animal waste-based medium. The study also focused on maintaining culture purity, controlling contamination, and analyzing major biochemical constituents. The results demonstrated significant variation in biochemical parameters between the two media. Spirulina grown in Zarrouk’s medium showed higher protein content (54.13 ± 0.31%), amino acid content (1.72 ± 0.063 mg/g), carotenoid content (5.51 ± 0.11 µg/ml), carbohydrate content (11.3 ± 0.17%), and phycobilin concentration (0.12 ± 0.002 mg/g), indicating enhanced metabolic activity under optimized nutrient conditions. In contrast, animal waste medium supported higher accumulation of certain minerals, including iron, zinc, and copper, suggesting its potential for mineral enrichment of Spirulina biomass. Chlorophyll content was comparatively higher in animal waste medium, reflecting variation in photosynthetic pigment production under different nutrient environments. The findings highlight that culture conditions strongly influence the biochemical profile of S. platensis. Optimized cultivation strategies can improve the production of nutritionally enriched Spirulina biomass for applications in food, health supplements, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology.