Extracts from spirulina, the blue-green algae widely consumed as a 'superfood', could be turned into a therapeutic treatment for Covid-19, the common cold, and a host of other viruses, following initial results from research conducted by ScotBio.
The Scottish biotech company is working with the University of Edinburgh, Robert Gordon University and the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) to determine how waste molecules from spirulina can be extracted and used for their natural antiviral properties.
Spirulina is already used in the commercial production of a variety of products, including as a dietary supplement and for food colourants. ScotBio’s vertical farming of algae approach helps to recover valuable by-products, including plant-based proteins, while minimising waste.
