Ingredients and properties
Phycocyanin is a porphyrin pigment protein in cyanobacteria, which is one of the rare pigment proteins in nature. It is a blue powder, soluble in water, but insoluble in alcohol and oil. The isoelectric point of phycocyanin is 3.4. It is stable under weak acidic and neutral conditions (pH4.5~8). It will precipitate under acidic conditions (pH4.2), while strong alkali may cause it to discolor.
Application fields
Due to its unique properties and effects, phycocyanin is widely used in many fields:
1. Food industry: As a natural food pigment, phycocyanin can be used for food coloring, adding attractive blue or green to food.
2. Cosmetics industry: Phycocyanin has antioxidant, moisturizing, anti-inflammatory effects, and is often used in advanced skin care products, which helps to improve facial fine lines, dryness, and skin redness.
