Phycocyanobilin

Bilirubin functions physiologically as a potent inhibitor of NADPH oxidase activity. A chromophore is part (or moiety) of a molecule responsible for its color. The chromophore phycocyanobilin, found in blue-green algae and cyanobacteria such as Spirulina, also has been found to be a potent inhibitor of this enzyme complex, likely because in mammalian cells it is rapidly reduced to phycocyanorubin, a close homolog of bilirubin. Phycocyanobilin supplementation may have health benefits. Rodent studies show Spirulina or phycocyanin (the Spirulina holoprotein that contains phycocyanobilin) can exert a wide range of anti-inflammatory effects. A heaping tablespoon (about 15 g) of Spirulina can be expected to provide about 100 mg of phycocyanobilin.

Pill web site