ABSTRACT
Spirulina platensis is a mesophilic planktonic lamentous cyanobacterium forming massive populations in freshwater and brackish lakes and some marine environment (Vonshak, 1997). Spirulina is extraordinarily richer in nutrition than in any food item. It contains high content of protein (70%), extremely high concentration of beta-carotene, vitamin B12, essential fatty acids, essential amino acids, antioxidants, and minerals (Belay et al., 1993; Vonshak, 1997). Spirulina is highly potent in providing nourishment and mental clarity, assisting in cancer recovery. It is rich in beta-carotene, a source of antioxidant that helps in effectively ghting against diseases. Spirulina is rich in vitamin B that prevents cardiovascular diseases. It is a good anti-inammatory agent, which enhances the immune system and contains antiaging properties. Due to the potential use of spirulina as a nutritional supplement, commercial production has profound international demand. Large-scale production of biomass is an intricate process that involves optimization of numerous parameters for protable yield. Among the various constraints in a large-scale production, physical, physiological, and economical limitations play an inevitable role (Mostert and Grobbelaar, 1987; Raoof, 2002). In developing countries such as India, focus should be given to minimize the production cost (Gupta and Changwal, 1988) to overcome the economical limitation.
