Algae and other aquatic
plants possess the capacity to take up toxic trace metals from
their environment, resulting in an internal concentration
greater than those of the surrounding waters. This property
has been exploited as a means for treating industrial effluent
containing metals before they are discharged, and to recover
the bioavailable fraction of the metal.
Chlorella has been shown to
develop resistance to cadmium contaminated waters by
synthesizing metal-binding proteins. A book written for the
mining industry, Biosorption of Heavy Metals, details how
miners use these organisms to increase the yield of precious
metals in old mines. The mucopolysaccharides in chlorella's
cell wall absorb rather large amounts of toxic metals similar
to an ion exchange resin.
Chlorella also enhances
mobilization of mercury compartmentalized in non-neurologic
structures such as the gut wall, muscles, ligaments,
connective tissue, and bone.
Chlorella is one
of the MOST scientifically researched foods
in human history. There are thousands of research papers on
Chlorella from medical institutions, scientific journals and
universities. NASA has determined will one of the first foods
grown on the space station when it is completed. The research
done on both of these has come from all over the world by
scientists at universities, private industry and chlorella
manufacturers themselves. Not a single negative aspect of
Chlorella has ever been sited as far as human health is
concerned.
Below are some
representative literature references to reassure you of
chlorella's thoroughly researched benefits and safety.
CHLORELLA
REFERENCES
Performance
of different microalgael species in removing nickel and zinc
from industrial wastewater.
Chong
AM, Wong YS
Tam Chemosphere. 2000 Jul;41(1-2):251-7
Experiments
were conducted to compare the ability of 11 microgaeal species
in removing nickel and zinc from waste water and found them to
be very effective.
Nutritional
supplementation with Chlorella pyrenoidosa for patients with
fibromyalgia syndrome: a pilot study.
Merchant RE; Carmack CA; Wise CM
Departments
of Anatomy and Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth
University, Medical College of Virginia Richmond, VA
23298-0709, USA. rmerchan@hsc.vcu.edu
Phytother
Res 2000 May;14(3):167-73
Each
day for 2 months 20 participants consumed 10 grams (10,000 mg)
of chlorella. Any amelioration of symptoms was validated and
quantified using semi-objective and subjective outcome
measures systematically administered at clinic visits on days
0, 30 and 60 of the diet therapy. Eighteen of the 20 patients
enrolled completed the 2 month trial. After two months the
average pain decrease was 22%.This decrease was statistically
significant. Blood samples taken on each occasion indicated no
significant alterations in serum chemistries, formed elements,
and circulating lymphocyte subsets.
Inhibitory
potential of Chlorella vulgaris on mouse skin papillomagenesis
and xenobiotic detoxication system.
Singh
A; Singh SP; Bamezai R
Anticancer Res 1999
May-Jun;19(3A):1887-91
The
present study assesses the potential of Chlorella vulgaris on
mouse skin cancers, and the role of xenobiotic detoxication
system in modulating the cancer pattern. Topical application
of chlorella during peri-, post- or peri- and post-initiational
stages of cancer induction agents, significantly reduced the
cancers. Chlorella treatment alone or during peri-, post- or
peri- and post-initiational stages significantly elevated the
sulfhydryl (-SH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) levels in
the liver and skin tissues. The results suggest that topically
applied chlorella can prevent skin cancers. The possible
significance of xenobiotic detoxication system in modulating
the cancer pattern is discussed.
Oral
administration of a unicellular green algae, Chlorella
vulgaris, prevents stress-induced ulcer.
Tanaka K, Yamada A, Noda K, et al
Planta Med 1997 Oct;63(5):465-6.
Oral
administration of dry powder of Chlorella vulgaris showed
clear prophylactic effects in ulcers. Chlorella may prevent
ulcer formation mainly through the
"immune-brain-gut" axis and protection of gastric
mucosa by its own characteristics.
Bioregeneration
with maltose excreting Chlorella: system concept,
technological development, and experiments.
Wolf
L
Adv Space Biol Med 1997;6:255-74
The
European Space Agency in the Netherlands studied a small-scale
bioregenerative system to support long-term biological
experiments on-board spacecraft with oxygen, water and food.
Core component of this system were a special photo-bioreactor in
which a maltose-producing strain of the green micro alga
Chlorella is cultivated.
Post-exposure
radioprotection by Chlorella vulgaris (E-25) in mice.
Singh
SP; Tiku AB; Kesavan PC
Indian J Exp Biol 1995 Aug;33(8):612-5
Oral
administration of chlorella, 1 hr before or immediately after
exposure to sublethal gamma-rays increased the number of
endogenous spleen colony forming units. The magnitude of
radioprotection was dependent on both, the dose of chlorella fed
and the time of administration. An optimal result was observed
when 500 mg/kg body wt. of C. vulgaris was fed 1 hr before or
immediately after irradiation.
Evaluation
of radioprotective action of a mutant (E-25) form of Chlorella
vulgaris in mice.
Sarma
L; Tiku AB; Kesavan PC; Ogaki M
J Radiat Res (Tokyo) 1993 Dec;34(4):277-84
Investigators
examined the role of orally fed Chlorella vulgaris in modulating
the gamma-ray induced chromosomal damage in whole-body
irradiated mice. A significant protection from radiation was
observed in both acute and chronic pretreatments.
Evaluation
of radioprotective action of a mutant (E-25) form of Chlorella
vulgaris in mice.
Sarma
L; Tiku AB; Kesavan PC; Ogaki M
J Radiat Res (Tokyo) 1993 DEC;34(4):277-84
The
possible role of orally fed chlorella in modulating the
gamma-ray induced chromosomal damage in whole-body irradiated
mice was evaluated. Different doses of chlorella were
administered either chronically (once, twice or thrice a day for
28 days) or as single acute doses before/after irradiation. A
significant radiation protective effect was observed in both
acute and chronic pretreatments, but only at doses above 400
mg/kg body weight.
Microalgae
as food and supplement.
Kay
RA
Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 1991;30(6):555-73.
The
microalgae Chlorella and the cyanobacteria Spirulina green blue
algae, are being used as nutrient-dense foods and sources of
fine chemicals. They have significant amounts of lipid, protein,
chlorophyll, carotenoids, vitamins, minerals, and unique
pigments. They may also have potent probiotic compounds that
enhance health. Their historical and current use are reviewed in
this article.
Effect
of chlorella on rats with iron deficient anemia.
Matsuura E; Nemoto T; Hozumi H, et
al
Kitasato Arch Exp Med 1991
DEC;64(4):193-204
In
order to determine effects of iron deficiency on the living
body, rats were given the iron deficient diet, the complete diet
added with iron, the diet added with 1% chlorella, the diet
added with 5% chlorella, or the diet added with 10% chlorella.
For the first 30 days, rats of all groups were given the iron
deficiency diet to make them iron deficient, and were
subsequently given the respective diet during the next 30 days
to observe various changes in the conditions of rats. Following
results were obtained. Rats with some chlorella fed with the
diets containing certain amounts of iron rapidly recovered.
Enhanced
resistance against Escherichia coli infection by subcutaneous
administration of the hot-water extract of Chlorella vulgaris in
cyclophosphamide-treated mice.
Konishi
F; Tanaka K; Kumamoto S, et al
Cancer Immunol Immunother 1990;32(1):1-7
The
effects of chlorella vulgaris on the recovery of leukocyte
number and the increase of resistance to bacterial infection
were examined in mice made white cell deficient by
cyclophosphamide, an chemotherapy agent. They were given
chlorella (50 mg/kg) subcutaneously under the skin, every other
day from day 1 to day 13 after cyclophosphamide treatment.
Chlorella accelerated the recovery of white blood cells in the
mice. The number of pro white blood cells in the spleen
increased rapidly and highly after the administration of
chlorella. Mice given chlorella showed an enhanced resistance
against E. coli infection, irrespective of the timing of
challenge. The bacterial number in cyclophophamide treated mice
increased explosively after inoculation, resulting in death
within 24 h. A progressive elimination of bacteria was observed
from 6 h in the peritoneal cavity, spleen and liver of
cyclophosphamide-treated mice given chlorella. These results
indicate that chlorella can be used as a potent stimulant of
nonspecific resistance to infection in neutropenic mice.
Effect
of Chlorella vulgaris extracts on murine cytomegalovirus
infections.
Ibusuki
K; Minamishima Y
Nat Immun Cell Growth Regul
1990;9(2):121-8
The
host-mediated antiviral effect of chlorella was evaluated in
mice against murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection. Mice
treated with 10 mg of chlorella days 3 and 1 before virus
challenge survived lethal infection. The protective effect of
chlorella was shown by a decrease in the infectious viruses
replicated in the target organs of chlorella-treated mice.
Chlorella also protected mice from pathological damage to the
target organs due to MCMV infection.
The
radioprotective effects of aqueous extract from chlorococcal
freshwater algae (Chlorella kessleri) in mice and rats.
Rotkovska
D; Vacek A; Bartonickova A
Strahlenther Onkol 1989 Nov;165(11):813-6
In
experiments on mice and rats, the effect was studied of a single
administration of chlorella growth. After injection of this
substance the number of haemopoietic stem cells in the bone
marrow and spleen of mice (CFUs) increased, as did their
survival after irradiation. Irradiation with a lethal dose of
gamma rays 24 hours after the injection of Ivastimul is survived
by a larger number of treated mice and rats than untreated ones.
On the first day after the administration Ivastimul protects
mice against brief and prolonged action of irradiation. The
protective effect of Ivastimul was observed after
intraperitoneal, intramuscular and subcutaneous administration.
Effect
of dried, powdered Chlorella vulgaris on experimental
atherosclerosis and alimentary hypercholesterolemia in
cholesterol-fed rabbits.
Sano
T; Tanaka Y
Artery 1987;14(2):76-84
The
anti-lipidemic action and anti-atherosclerotic action of dried,
powdered chlorella was investigated using male Japanese White
rabbits. A ten-week load of high-cholesterol diet remarkably
increased serum total cholesterol and the beta-lipoprotein
cholesterol levels in serum, causing aortic atheromatous lesion.
In the Chlorella group which was administered a high-cholesterol
diet containing 1% powdered chlorella, increase of total and
beta-lipoprotein cholesterol level was suppressed. Further, the
development of aortic atheromatous lesions was significantly
inhibited. Clofibrate used as positive control in this
experiment, did not show any inhibitory effect, either on the
increase in serum lipid level or on the development of aortic
atheromatous lesion.
Protective
effect of Chlorella on the hepatic damage induced by ethionine
in rats.
Wang
LF; Lin JK; Tung YC
Taiwan I Hsueh Hui Tsa Chih 1979
DEC;78(12):1010-9
Chlorella
references ....... contd
