Algae Information, Production, Methods, Products, Marketing, Use, and Terminology

[Phaeton]

The term "Algae" comes from the latin word for "seaweed", and means a large, diverse, group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms. Multicellular forms (like seaweed and kelp) are Macroalgae. Unicellular forms are Microalgae, Cyanobacteria, or most Diatoms. Algae have been around on earth for almost 4 billion years.

The word 'Algae' is plural. 'Alga' is the latin word for a particular seaweed but adopted as the singular form of 'algae'. The term 'Algae' is technically restricted to eukaryotic organisms which is an organism whose cells contain complex structures enclosed within membranes. Algae are identified by various species, refered to as 'strains'.

The modern scientific study of algae is called Phycology (pronounced ' fi-ca-lo-ge '), a branch of life science and subdiscipline of botany. Scientist in this field are Phycologist involved in scientific study, experimentation, testing, research, production, and quality control for general and focused Microalgal Biotechnology applications.

Algae lack many distinct organs or structures characterizing land plants, such as leaves and rhizoids in nonvascular plants, or leaves, roots, and other structures in vascular plants. Many are photoautotrophic, some groups contain members that are mixotrophic and derive energy both from photosynthesis and uptake of organic carbon either by osmotrophy, myzotrophy, or phagotrophy.

Photosynthesis comes from the the Greek words for "phos" meaning "light" and "synthesis' meaning "combination". This is an algae biochemical bioprocess, using sunlight + water + carbon dioxide (CO₂), manufacturing sugars and releasing oxygen (O₂) as a waste by-product. Sunlight is the energy source. Sugars produced are used for Proteins (like pigments), DNA, Lipids (oil), and more complex sugars. The photosynthetic process allows algae to make a wide range of products. Much known about photosynthesis was discovered by studying the green algae Chlorella.

Algae Types

Microalgae: Microscopic algae, a unicellular species existing individually or in chains or groups. Microalgae cell sizes range from a few μm to a few hundreds of μm.

Cyanobacteria: A unicellular prokaryotic bacteria obtaining energy via photosynthesis, previously known as blue-green algae but now known more correctly as blue-green bacteria or Cyanophyta. "Cyanobacteria" comes from the Greek kyanós in reference to the blue-green color. Cyanobacteria cell size is about 1 μm in size.

Macroalgae: Multicellular algae commonly refered to by the loose term "seaweed", and includes some members of red, brown and green algae.

Diatom: A major group of algae and one of the most common types of phytoplankton. These can exist individually or in colonies. Diatoms generally range in size from 2-200 μm.

Algae Cell Structure: Green algae create discrete structures with specific functions and have a double membrane bound nucleus or nuclei. The prokaryotic cells of cyanobacteria contain no nucleus or other membrane bound organelles. Most diatoms are unicellular and are composed of a cell wall comprising silica. In unicellular types the cell is the algae body. In multicellular types the cell is the building block from which the algae is made.

Algae Colors

Algae are usually identified with the color green, but actually occur in a great variety of colors and hues depending on the kind of algae and in some cases the way they grow. Colors are pigment molecules within algae cells and although pigments occur in many colors there are three major pigment categories:

• Chlorophylls: green
• Carotenoids: red, orange, yellow, amber, or brown
• Phycobilins: iridescent red or blue

Algae color can change with growth conditions or stress, and can indicate a desired product being manufactured by algae. In algae production stressing growth conditions is used to produce some products (Example: Astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae). At low light intensity some algae produce more light absorbing pigments to improve photosynthesis efficiency. At very high light intensity some algae produce high concentrations of “screening” pigments to protect cell interiors from exposure to excess ultraviolet and blue light. Chromatic adaptation in algae is adaptation to different wave lengths (frequency) of light by changing their relative amount of various pigments and allows algae cells to maximize light absorbance for photosynthesis. A few algae subjected to one light color express the complimentary color.

Carotenoids and Chlorophylls are fat/oil soluble (hydrophobic), Phycobilins are water soluable. Something that sets algae apart from higher plants is ketocarotenoids. Higher plants synthesize carotenoids, with exception of a few higher plant anomaly's they do not possess the ability to form ketocarotenoids which are important for some algae extracts like Astaxanthin. "Ketocarotenoid" is a term refering to "keto group" which is carotenoid pigments in groups.

Algae Uses

Algae or their extracts are used in foods, dietary supplements, beverages, confections, cosmetics, medical care, research, pharmaceuticals, personal care, nutraceutical, biofuels, bioplastics, biofertilizers, textiles, chemicals, therapeutic drugs, diagnostic tools, nanotechnology, pet and animal/ fish care and feeds, fungicides, bactericides, pesticides, and other products and industries. Chances are almost 70% of foods, beverages, cosmetics, personal care, pet care, etc... items in an average shoppers cart will contain algae ingredients.

Algae products for consumers, packaging, and storage

The amount or type of product varies according to strain used and parameters. End forms are supplied as dry, powdered, beads, tablet, capsule, crushed, ground, granular, liquid, oils, oleoresin, flaked, or raw biomass. For storage, sealed oxygen barrier containers are recommended. Long term storage is in cool dry temperature controlled environments, reasonable temporary periods outside of such storage generally does not affect integrity of algae products.

Because Chlorella & Spirulina algae are the most popular and common in use for alage based Dietary Supplement products which are the most common use in which algae ingredients are most publically visible those are presented with their own posts in this thread. There are many substances extracted from algae, two of the most popular and common for use in products, Astaxanthin and Phycocyanin, are presented with their own posts in this thread. Other types are mentioned in the thread and their uses are indicated along with their mention.

Also see General FDA Approval for Algae Products

Copyright information: Unless mentioned, indicated, or noted otherwise, or an image or content is in the pubic domain, all content and images in this thread or any post in this thread Copyright© by Phaeton 2010, 2011, 2012. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction, Duplication, Distribution, Commercial use, strictly prohibited. Unless specifically granted permission, please contact me for permission to use images or content herein, I may be contacted via Private Message (PM) here at the MarketPlayGround forums for which you must register to use PM's but registration is free.

[Phaeton]

Phycocyanin (pronounced: 'fi-co-ci-an-in') is a natural water soluble Phycobiliprotein blue pigment extraction from Spirulina blue-green microalgae. Name derivation is from the Greek 'phyco' meaning “algae”, cyanin is from the English “cyan" which is derived from the Greek “kyanós" meaning blue-green.

Phycocyanin production and yield approximation information

Phycocyanin yield is generally calculated based on grams per 10 grams of algae, yield baseline estimate varies 10% to 20%. Parameter optimization in PBR systems can yield Phycocyanin at ~20% to ~25%.

Phycocyanin use, pricing, market, and characteristics information

Phycocyanin price ranges approximately $500.00 KG to $100,000.00 per gram depending on grade. Its used in foods, beverages, confections, cosmetics, medical care and research, biological research, pharmaceuticals, personal care and nutraceutical products, and other products. Its an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Phycobiliproteins are highly sensitive fluorescent dyes used in medicine for cancer detection, AIDS screening, monitoring blood drug levels, immunological diagnostics, and diagnosis of several diseases in a single sample. Advantages of Phycocyanin are, high water solubility, extra ordinarily photo stable, stability over broad pH Range, instrument compatibility, excellent fluorescence with extremely high absorbtivity, large stokes shift and excitation with emission bands at visible wavelength, 100 times more sensitive than other organic flurophores. Its desired in medical research and diagnosis, Histochemistry, FRET assays, Fluorescence microscopy, Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS), Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH), Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS), labeling of proteins -antibodies - nucleic acids.

Evaluation of Phycocyanin purity uses the absorbance ratio 620/280 (expressed as 'A620/A280'), where:

• FOOD GRADE (Purity A620/A280 ≥ .07) - lowest grade (some Phycocyanin suppliers use ≥ .05 for food grade)
• REACTIVE GRADE (Purity A620/A280 ≥ 3.9) - middle grade
• ANALYTICAL GRADE (Purity A620/A280 ≥ 4) - highest grade

Phycocyanin is oderless, water soluable, has a slight sweetness taste, and is a brilliant blue color. Purified forms are C-Phycocyanin and R-Phycocyanin. Crude powder can appear a rich dark blue color. The pharmaceutical, medical, or research, fields demand a purity ratio of A620/A280 ≥ 4, cosmetic and food industry's demand a purity ratio of A620/A280 ≥ 2. Analytical grade is sometimes refered to as 'Medical' or 'Research' grade. Common product forms are supplied powdered or liquid.

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Astaxanthin is pronounced: 'Asta - zan - thin' , some pronouce it 'Asta - zhan - teen' or 'As-tuh-Zan-thin'. It occurs naturally in Haematococcus (pronounced: Ha-mat-o-ca-cus) pluvialis microalgae, Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous (formerly Phaffia rhodozyma yeast), micro-organisms (Agrobacterium aurantiacum), and a few higher plant anomaly's (Adonis aestivalis) with very low amounts. The highest natural concentration is from Haematococcus pluvialis.

Astaxanthin production and yield approximation information

Astaxanthin occurs in Haematococcus pluvialis at ~40,000 parts per million (ppm). Unoptimized production yield baseline estimate is ~4% (~40g/kg of dry biomass), parameter optimization in PBR systems can yield more. Astaxanthin Oleoresin baseline yield is typically ~3 kg/~10 kg of dried biomass. Upon optimization and extraction concentration can be increased to 10.0% (100,000 ppm).

Astaxanthin use, pricing, market, and characteristics information

Astaxanthin belongs to a larger class of phytochemicals known as terpenes and is classified as a xanthophyll, a carotenoid pigment, and contains a keto group and hydroxyl group giving it antioxidant properties. Research suggests it may be beneficial in treating cardiovascular, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases, protecting body tissues from oxidative damage, aiding immune response, and restraining oxidation of low-density lipoproteins. (Note: Astaxanthin is the analog of vitamin A (retinol) for its antioxidant function but is not converted to vitamin A in the human body like other carotenoids.)

Astaxanthin markets involve food, beverage, health, confections, nutraceutical, cosmetics, and others, and has become essential in the cosmetic, nutraceutical, and food industry. In cosmetics, its used as a photo-protectant, antioxidant, stabilizer, and skin hyper-pigmentation suppressant. Astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis sells for up to ~ $7000.00/Kg.

Astaxanthin color is red to dark red, it may appear as a dry "meal" or flaked. Astaxanthin oleoresin is viscous, dark red and commonly supplied in 5% and 10% concentration. Powdered form is commonly supplied at 1% or 2% concentration. Product forms may be tablets, capsules, beads, creams, powdered, oleoresin, with various concentrations. Since astaxanthin is fat soluable, its recommended a healthy fatty acid product like Omega 3 with EPA or DHA also be used to aid best absorption.

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WARNING:

Misleading, deceptive, false, and illegal claims are made or suggested that astaxanthin reduces, removes, prevents, minimizes, need for, or acts as, a sunblock/sunscreen; or stops, repairs, reverses, reduces, removes, prevents, mitigates, provides long term protection from UVA/UVB irradiation or environmental damage to the skin or eyes; or allows longer UV irradiation exposure time without damage; or prevents, treats, cures, or mitigates melanoma, or degenerative changes or damage to skin or eyes. These claims are misleading, deceptive, false, and illegal. Avoid companies or distributors and products which promote, use, endorse, allow, or suggest such.

• Astaxanthin can mask signs of UV or environmental damage leading to belief its not present or occuring when in reality it can still be present or occuring but warning signs are reduced, delayed, or supressed due to astaxanthin effect.

• There is no acceptable legitimate scientific evidence demonstrating causality between astaxanthin and human protection against UV radiation. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), World Health Organization (WHO), American Medical Association (AMA), American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), The American Cancer Society, and all recognized health or medical organization authorities; (1) Do not recognize astaxanthin as a measure against UV radiation health threatening effects. (2) Have not accepted UV protection claims these companies make or their "research" as evidence in support of such claims. (3) Have determined or recognized that UV radiation is a Group 1 carcinogen, a serious health risk, and a proven cause of malignant melanoma cancer of the skin and eye, non-melanoma skin cancer, cancer of the lip, degenerative changes in the cells, fibrous tissue and blood vessels of the skin, and a cause of the development of age-related macular degeneration, pterygium, and cataracts, with further evidence supporting that UV exposure reduces immune system effectiveness. Astaxanthin can't stop, prevent, repair, reverse, reduce, cure, treat, or mitigate these diseases and damages.

• Astaxanthin doesn't have capability or ability stated or suggested by these misleading, deceptive, false, and illegal claims. If you have used astaxanthin for that indicated by these claims its recommended you immediately see a qualified physician for a full melanoma or damage screening.

• You are not protected from harmful UV radiation effects by using astaxanthin, there is no known safe level of unprotected UV exposure.

• Sun exposure and tanning devices are proven UV radiation carcinogenic sources that can cause health threatening impact which can possibly prove fatal if not detected and treated in time. See a qualifed physician for diagnosis and treatment of suspected or actual damage, melanoma, cancers, or degenerative changes.

*** Also see Skin cancer prevention
*** Also see The dangers of indoor tanning
*** Also see Astaxanthin and UV Irradiation

*** Also see General FDA Approval for Algae Products

[Phaeton]

Chlorella is a green microalgae. The name Chlorella comes from the Greek word 'chloros' meaning "green" and the Latin 'ella' meaning "small".

Chlorella production and yield approximation information

Chlorella has a rapid growth rate and multiplys 4 times in approximately 20 hours. Yield amount is the final dry biomass weight.

Chlorella use, pricing, market, and characteristics information

Chlorella contains all 8 essential amino acids, about 20 vitamins and minerals, and is a source of chlorophyll and ribonucleic acid (RNA). It is rich in Niacin, Iron, Selenium and Zinc and has high levels of Beta Carotene. The two strains most commonly used for food and dietary supplements are Chlorella Vulgaris and Chlorella Pyrenoidosa.

Until relatively recently Chlorella was difficult to market due to the high cost of breaking down the very tough cells walls which prevented efficient absorption and digestion in humans and animals. Advancements in technology have achieved low cost efficient processes for breaking down the cell wall making Chlorella a profitably viable product. The dry biomass has a "leafy flake" or pressed "sheet cake" apperance and is a olive drab green color. Product forms may be tablets, capsules, beads, coarse or fine ground powder (40 mesh is common), liquid extract or tinctures, or raw. Chlorella is used mostly in nutritional and dietary products. Although tablets are often prepared from Chlorella they may contain unacceptable levels of stabilizers, fillers, or binders to hold the Chlorella powder together and these may interfere with absorption and digestion thus two-piece gelatin capsule, or powered or liquid forms are prefered.

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Spirulina is a blue-green, filamentous, Cyanobacteria microalgae. The name Spirulina comes from the latin "spirula" meaning "small coil" or "small spiral".

Spirulina production and yield approximation information

Growth rate varies according to the culture medium used for specific production goals. Production yeild is the final dry biomass weight.

Spirulina use, pricing, market, and characteristics information

Spirulina contains high amounts of protein between 55% and 77% by dry weight and contains all essential amino acids although with reduced amounts of methionine, cysteine, and lysine when compared to the proteins of meat, eggs, and milk. Spirulina contains vitamins B₁ (thiamine), B₂ (riboflavin), B₃ (nicotinamide), B₆ (pyridoxine), B₉ (folic acid), vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin K1, vitamin k2. Its a source of potassium, calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, sodium, and zinc. It contains many pigments, including chlorophyll-a, xanthophyll, beta-carotene, echinenone, myxoxanthophyll, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, diatoxanthin, 3'-hydroxyechinenone, beta-cryptoxanthin and oscillaxanthin, plus the phycobiliproteins c-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin.

The produced dry biomass has a dark green to blue-green color "chunky flake" appearance. Product forms may be tablets, capsules, beads, pellets, coarse or fine ground powder (40 mesh is common), liquid extract or tinctures, or raw. Spirulina is used in nutritional, dietary, cosmetics, medical, nutraceuticals, bio-plastics, pigments, and many more products and industry sectors. Although tablets are often prepared from Spirulina they may contain unacceptable levels of stabilizers, fillers, or binders to hold the Spirulina powder together and these may interfere with absorption and digestion thus two-piece gelatin capsule, or powered or liquid forms are prefered.

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*** Overall, spirulina and chlorella have many favorable health benefit attributes. However, some common sense and care should be exercised so investigate the product fully before using it.

*** Contray to claims or advertisement, there is no such thing as a "Disease-fighting dose" for Chlorella or Spirulina.

*** Contray to claims or advertisement, Spirulina is not a significiant or reliable source of vitamin B₁₂, what it contains is pseudovitamin B₁₂ which is not bioavailable in the human body. There is no recognized scientific, medical, health, or independent scientific testing, organziation which recognizes spirulina as a significant vitamin B₁₂ source. (see Spirulina and Chlorella Algae Products and Vitamin B₁₂)

*** The amino acid phenylalanine should be avoided by people who have phenylketonuria disorder where the body cannot metabolize this amino acid as it builds up in the brain causing damage.

*** Spirulina has very high vitamin K content. It should not be used by those undergoing anticoagulant treatment or taking blood thinner medications.

*** Although spirulina has high protein content by weight, an excessive amount daily is needed to derive protein benefit. Taking such excessive amounts may cause toxic effects of too much vitamin A (also in spirulina). Thus spirulina should not be a main source of protein supply focus. For example, if a spirulina supplement tablet contained 1 gram of protein and 1300 IU of vitamin A, a male age 25 to 50 would need 63 of these daily to give the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) daily amount of 63 grams of protein (females age 25 to 50, protein RDA is 50 grams), yet would be receiving 81,900 IU of vitamin A and the maximum toxic limit amount of vitamin A for the average person age 19 and up is only 3000 IU.

*** Contray to information found on the internet, or put forth by companies, distributors, and representatives, there is a limit to how much Chlorella or Spirulina one can take. Advice such as "there is no maximum dose and you can take as much as you'd like, just grab a handful of tablets and throw 'em down your throat." (as one company's representative claims) should not be followed or believed. Chloerella or Spirulina are multi-compound, meaning there is more than just one thing you are taking when you use it. The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for any one substance in the Chloerella or Spirulina should not be exceeded unless recommended or instructed otherwise by your own physician. For example; Spirulina intake should not exceed that needed to provide the RDA of Vitamin A (a substance in spirulina) because too much vitamin A can be toxic, or chlorella intake should not exceed the RDA for calcium (a substance in chloerella) because too much calcium can cause kidney or other problems. The average spirulina dietary supplement 500mg tablet can contain about 1300 IU of vitamin A, or about 120% of the RDA of vitamin A for an average person. The maximum toxicity level amount of vitamin A for those 19 years of age or older is only 3000 IU, three of those 500mg tablets daily will exceed the toxicity point for vitamin A daily and the body is only going to tolerate that daily toxicity level for so long before it reacts in the form of a health problem. Its highly recommended that you do not "just grab a handful of tablets and throw 'em down your throat". Claims such as "there is no maximum dose, eat as much as you want and all that will happen is you will get full." (as another company's representative claims) are as equally wrong and should not be followed or believed. The intake limit for Chlorella or Spirulina is basically the RDA limit of any one substance in the Chlorella or Spirulina product, unless recommended or instructed otherwise by your own physician. The company/manufacturer dose recommendation should not be considered fact, medical advice, or scientific testing or evidence based.

*** Always consult with your physician before beginning use of Spirulina or Chlorella.

*** Spirulina or Chlorella should not be used by women who are pregnant or can become pregnant, nursing mothers, or children, without physician approval.


*** Also see General Personal Use Of Algae Based Dietary Supplements
*** Also see General FDA Approval for Algae Products

[Phaeton]

Most algae substances are in the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) category and adopt the basic intention use of GRAS substances as ingredients - Algae based products are those where a GRAS algae substance is a substantially primary active ingredient. Algae based products marketed as dietary supplements are sometimes refered to as "Nutraceuticals" (see Algae Nutraceuticals). When algae substances are ingredients in other than algae based products they are treated as ingredients subject to the regulatory requirements for their use, for example, as a food colorant or additive. GRAS substances and Dietary Supplements are regulated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the regulatory authority.

The FD&C requirements for GRAS and Dietary Supplements applies to and holds responsible all (including involved or associated) that manufacture, process, pack, hold, distribute, retail, sale, or advertise dietary supplements (including the supplement ingredients) and GRAS substances, for adherance to regulation and requirements. Legal obligation is present at all times for all requirements both pre-market and while marketing the product.

Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) and FDA regulation briefly, basically, and generally: GRAS exemptions are granted for substances that are generally recognized, among experts qualified by scientific training and experience to evaluate their safety, as having been adequately shown through scientific procedures to be safe under the conditions of their intended use. A GRAS substance is also required to be effective for its intended use and that intended use needs to have been already approved by the FDA.

A GRAS status exemption designation can exist in one of three forms:

1. Self-affirmed (sometimes refered to as Self-Determined): Manufacturer performed all necessary research, including formation of an expert panel to review safety concerns, and is prepared to use the findings to defend GRAS status.

2. FDA-pending: Manufacturer performed all necessary research, including formation of an expert panel to review safety concerns, and submitted to the FDA for GRAS approval.

3. No comment: FDA has reviewed a GRAS claim and responded with "FDA has no questions about the company's conclusion that the use of the substance is GRAS" (meaning no further challenges on the GRAS status).

In April 2010, the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) was changed in relation to GRAS to include CFR title 21 170.30(b) which provides that general recognition of safety through scientific procedures requires the same quantity and quality of scientific evidence as is required to obtain approval of the substance as a food additive.

GRAS exemption is not an FDA approval. It is an exemption from normal regulatory oversight in the aspect that it removes requirement to register use of a GRAS substance. GRAS exemption in no way relieves legal obligation to perform the necessary requirements to substantiate that a substance is GRAS, including the formation of an expert panel to evaluate safety and scientific testing procedures required, even if a previous GRAS exemption exists for others or a notice of use has not been filed with the FDA.

Dietary Supplements and FDA regulation briefly, basically, and generally: The FDA regulates dietary supplements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C) as "foods" and not as drugs. In general, FDA's role with a dietary supplement product begins after the product enters the marketplace and is usually the agency's first opportunity to take action against a product that presents a significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury, or that is otherwise adulterated or misbranded.

A dietary supplement is defined by the FDA as - A product intended to supplement the diet and contains any of the following dietary ingredients:

• a vitamin
• a mineral
• an herb or other botanical (excluding tobacco, or illegal substances)
• an amino acid
• a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combination of any of the above

Under FDA requirements, a dietary supplement must meet the following criteria and requirements:

• It must be intended for ingestion in pill, capsule, tablet, powder, or liquid form, and is taken by mouth.
• It must not be represented for use as a conventional food or as the sole item of a meal or diet.
• It must be labeled as a "dietary supplement"
• It must not make claims that it diagnoses, mitigates, treats, prevents, or cures any disease. (note: "therapeutic" claims are also prohibited)

• Labeling must have a descriptive name of the product and state that it is a "dietary supplement".
• Labeling must have a name and place of business of manufacturer, packer, or distributor.
• Labeling must have a complete list of ingredients.
• Labeling must have a net contents of the product.
• Labeling must have a "Supplement Facts" nutrition label panel that identifies each dietary ingredient in the product.

• They must meet requirements of the FDA "Current Good Manufacturing Practice" (CGMP) policy (included as part of the FD&C) which includes - ensuring dietary supplements are produced in a quality manner, don't contain contaminants or impurities, are accurately labeled, and also covers manufacturing, packaging, labeling, storage, quality control, design and construction of manufacturing plants, testing of ingredients and final products, record keeping and complaints processes. The CGMP requirements apply to all domestic and foreign companies that manufacture, package, label, or hold dietary supplements for the U.S. market. Companies that manufacture, process, pack or hold dietary supplements are required to register their facilities with the FDA, facilities are subject to inspection, and these entities must record, investigate and forward to the FDA reports they receive of serious adverse events associated with product use.

• They can use broad structure/function claims, but can't make health claims unless approved by the FDA or already permitted by regulation. The FDA must be notified of structure/function claims within 30 days of first use. All claims must be substantiated and truthful, and must not be be misleading. (see Dietary Supplement Claims)

• They are required to have suitable quanity of ingredients, in suitable potency (or concentration), and have the capacity (refered to as "efficacy") to produce the benefit claimed. Although required to be safe and have efficacy to produce the benefit claimed, companies are not required to prove a product is safe or effective before its marketed.

• They are required to have a Certificate of Analysis for the ingredients.

• They may not contain active ingredients of FDA-approved drugs or their analogues (closely-related or similar drugs), prescription ingredients, or other compounds, such as novel synthetic steroids, that do not qualify as dietary ingredients, and may not contain "hidden" ingredients (those active ingredients included but not listed on the label).

• They may not claim to be alternatives to FDA-approved drugs or their analogs (closely-related drugs) or to have effects similar to prescription drugs.

• They may not claim to be "FDA Approved".

• They may not suggest claims and may only use claims allowed by law to be expressly stated.

*** Suggest (suggested, suggesting) means: to imply, hint, intimate, insinuate, all which mean to convey an idea indirectly.

*** Also see Algae Nutraceuticals
*** Also see General Personal Use Of Algae Based Dietary Supplements
*** Also see Dietary Supplement Claims
*** Also see Beware of Fraudulent Dietary Supplements
*** Also see Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know
*** Also see Unethical Marketing Practices in the Dietary Supplement and "Nutraceutical" Market

Note: "Disease" is defined in the Code of Federal Regulation (CFR), Title 21, Part 101, Section 101.93(g), as: "... damage to an organ, part, structure, or system of the body such that it does not function properly (e.g., cardiovascular disease), or a state of health leading to such dysfunctioning (e.g., hypertension); except that diseases resulting from essential nutrient deficiencies (e.g., scurvy, pellagra) are not included in this definition."

[Phaeton]

Algaculture is Algae farming (producing algae or algae based products on a dedicated scale).

Algae Culturing Station: A specialized lab station where a multitude of algae strains are cultured and prepared for inoculation.

Algae Strain is the specific species of algae. For example, Haematococcus microalgae, the highest concentration of Astaxanthin is found in a particular species ("strain") of Haematococcus called "pluvialis", and the complete name of the algae used then becomes "Haematococcus" combined with the strain name "pluvialis" - thus "Haematococcus pluvialis" which would be refered to scientifically as "H.pluvialis".

Biomass: A term used for the algae mass resulting from algae growth, not extractions from the algae mass.

Bioprocesses: The biological/chemical/physical actions or reactions of algae to produce a product, effect, or benefit to be applied in bioproducts or Microalgal Biotechnology and includes scientific or interactive processes used to start, end, produce, stimulate, acheive, maintain, or enhance, the algae bioprocesses.

Bioproducts: Algae products, effects, benefits, or applications, produced from or for Microalgal Biotechnology uses, commercialization, methods, research, or aplications.

Bioreactor: A device or system supporting a biologically active environment such as for growth and production of algae.

Closed-Loop: In terms of a PBR, refers to a system closed to the environment and having no exchange with environment gases and contaminants.

De-Watering: Process of removing water from algae biomass, usually part of the harvesting process. Usually to a certain precentage, e.g... "de-watered to 15%" meaning 85% of the water was removed.

Extraction: Process of separating the desired product from the biomass. Algae extracts consist of three broad categories: Lipids (including triglycerides and fatty acids), Carbohydrates, and Proteins. Extraction method selection may be affected by a number of factors, for example cost, complexity, time, product, product use, contractural, requested or required methods, purchased/license of methods, even specialized personnel availability. Extraction can consist of many methods such as chemical, mechanical, electrical, gravity setteling, filtering or percipitation, ingredients or compounds, interaction with other conditions, Supercritical CO₂, Centrifugation, Hexane, Homogenization, Ultrasonic-assisted, temperature, osmotic pressure, or combinations of methods. The extraction method applied can affect recovery precentages of the desired product. Some examples of extraction methods are:

• Phycocyanin processing for water proof cosmetics where an organic solvent denatures and percipitates the pigment. (method combination - chemical and percipitation)

• Phycocyanin extraction can be accomplished by freezing and thawing then application of filtering techniques. (method combination - temperature and filtering)

• Algae oils can be extracted by use of a popular methods such as mechnical press or electric cell disruption. (mechanical and electrical)

• Astaxanthin can be extracted by mixing the "culture broth" (basically the biomass) directly with vegetable oils where the Astaxanthin extracts into the vegetable oil by hydrophobic interaction, the oil extracts are then simply separated from the culture medium containing cell debris by gravity settling. (method combination - interaction, filtering with gravity setteling, other ingredients). Two, among other, methods for extraction of Astaxanthin use Supercritical CO₂ or acetone, with Supercritical CO₂ being the best and most desired method.

Growth Rate: The rate at which the algae cells multiply, its different for each algae. There is a correlation between algae growth rate and the amount of lipids produced. A general rule of thumb is, the more naturally stored lipid content in algae the slower it grows. Some algal species are naturally very high in lipid production, e.g. 80% by dry weight but grow very slowly. Other species grow very fast and naturally store about 20% lipids and when stressed by conditions affecting growth (e.g. nutrient limitations) they store about 50% lipids but with special optimizations may store greater amounts, e.g. 80% by dry weight.

Harvest or harvesting: Separating algae biomass from growth medium (removal of the biomass from the production system). Common methods are microscreens, centrifugation, froth flotation, dissolved air flotation, or flocculation. This stage may also include de-watering and drying.

Inoculation: Placing the selected strain of algae culture for the product desired in the production system.

Microalgal Biotechnology: The application of microalgae bioproducts and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, industrial, commercial, medicine, research, and other areas requiring, needing, utilizing, commercializing, or marketing, products. It includes uses and technologies, engineered, developed, and applied for research, study, selection, and application of microalgae bioproducts and bioprocesses. Although microalgae is produced in other types of systems such as open pond or heterotrophic systems, the Microalgal Biotechnology field is focused and developed based on photobioreactor systems and is composed of disciplines of botany, biochemistry, molecular biology, life sciences, and photobioreactor design and engineering. The Phycology field is an interactive part of Microalgal Biotechnology.

Photobioreactor (PBR): A bioreactor which incorporates a light source to provide photonic (sunlight) energy input into the reactor. Its possible to provide light artificially or indirectly via specific UV lamps or fiber optics. Direct sunlight exposure is more effective in terms of cost and complexity. PBR's can be horizontal, vertical, or both in orientation, any number of factors can determine orientation. There are several physical arrangements of a photobioreactor, these include arrays of clear plastic tubing, clear tanks, and clear plastic sleeves or bags.

PBR systems can be combined, grouped, or allocated, more simply, more economically, and with more flexability than other systems while providing higher production rates at lower cost than other systems

Pig (not the bacon type): A generic name sometimes applied to a device or method that "stirs" the algae so all receives exposure to sunlight, and helps remove oxygen which is an algae waste by-product.

Phycology (pronounced ' fi-ca-lo-ge '): The modern scientific study of algae, a branch of life science and subdiscipline of botany. Phycology includes study of cyanobacteria. Scientist in this field are called Phycologist.

Strain Selection: Algae producers select specific algae species for valuable compounds grown in the algal biomass.