螺旋藻是一种丝状多细胞螺旋形蓝藻,它与以往研究的小球藻等绿藻不同,它的细胞壁结构中纤维素极少,不需经过复杂的加工即可被人和动物消化吸收。螺旋藻蛋白质含量高达58.5％～71％,并且含有丰富的维生素和矿物质,其中β—胡萝卜素含量最高,比胡萝卜还高15倍。螺旋藻是墨西哥阿兹台克人主食的一部分,而且几个世纪来一直是乍得湖附近卡嫩布部族传统的蛋白来源,乍得湖盛产螺旋藻。但目前由于螺旋藻商品化生产或本较高,螺旋藻的利用还只能用于食品、色素、医药、化妆品、经济动物饲料等方面。如墨西哥将它添于饮料、蛋糕、冰淇淋、乳酪等40多种加工品中,添加量高达10％—20％。美国将螺旋藻制成片剂,用 Spirulina is a filamentous, multicellular helical blue-green algae that, unlike the previously studied chlorella and other green algae, has very few cell wall structures and is digested and absorbed by humans and animals without complicated processing . Spirulina protein content as high as 58.5% to 71%, and is rich in vitamins and minerals, including the highest content of β-carotene, 15 times higher than carrots. Spirulina is part of the Mexican Aztec staple, and for centuries it has been a protein source for the tribe’s tradition of Karnibuh near Lake Chad. Lake Chad is rich in spirulina. However, due to commercial production of spirulina or higher, the utilization of spirulina can only be used for food, pigment, medicine, cosmetics, animal feed and other aspects. For example, Mexico added it to more than 40 processed products such as beverages, cakes, ice creams and cheeses, adding up to 10% -20%. Spirulina tablets made in the United States