spirulina

spirulina
/spuy'reuh luy"neuh/, n.
any of the blue-green algae of the genus Spirulina, sometimes added to food for its nutrient value.
[ < NL, equiv. to spirul(a) small coil (see SPIRAL, -ULE) + -ina -INA; so called from their corkscrew shape]

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Any cyanobacteria in the genus Spirulina.

A traditional food source in parts of Africa and Mexico, spirulina is an exceptionally rich source of vitamins, minerals, and protein, and one of the few nonanimal sources of vitamin B12. It is now being widely studied for its possible antiviral, anticancer, antibacterial, and antiparasitic properties, and has been used for such medical conditions as allergies, ulcers, anemia, heavy-metal poisoning, and radiation poisoning. It is also used in weight-loss programs.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Spirulina — Systematik Domäne: Bakterien Stamm: Cyanobacteria Klasse …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Spirulina — Spirulina …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Spirulina — may refer to: * Spirulina (dietary supplement), a health food supplement * Spirulina (genus), a cyanobacterium group * Spirulina (suborder), a group of cephalopods including Spirula spirula …   Wikipedia

  • spirulina — [spī΄rə lī′nə, spī΄rəlē′nə] n. [sometimes S ] 1. any of a genus (Spirulina) of blue green algae, some of which are dried and used as a food or a nutritional supplement 2. this food or supplement …   English World dictionary

  • Spirulīna — (S. Lamarck), Gattung der Nautilinen; die Schale hat mehre Löcher in jeder Scheidewand; nur versteinert …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Spirulina — (o Arthrospira) es una microalga perteneciente al grupo Cyanobacterium (anteriormente conocido como Cyanophyta o como grupo de las algas verdeazules). Se trata de organismos unicelulares y fotoautótrofos, a pesar de ser unicelulares se agrupan… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Spirulina —   Spirulina …   Wikipedia Español

  • Spirulina — Spirulina …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Spirulina — ? Спирулина Спирулина Научная классификация Царство: Бактерии Отдел: Цианобактерии …   Википедия

  • spirulina — noun Etymology: New Latin, from spirula small coil, diminutive of Latin spira coil Date: 1977 a microscopic filamentous aquatic cyanobacterium (genus Spirulina, especially S. platensis syn. Arthrospira platensis) that is sometimes cultivated for… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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