S.P. Goyal
Wildife Forensic Cell, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehra Dun 248001, India
Functional food is a natural or processed food contains known biologically active compounds, which provides a clinically proven and documented health benefit, and thus, an important source in the prevention, management and treatment of chronic diseases of the modern age. In this experiment Spirulina, a well known functional food worldwide is irradiated by 60Co gamma radiation by different doses 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 kGy at a dose rate of 5 kGy per hour. Amongst the irradiated samples Spirulina exposed to 15kGy showed most inspiring results both in vitro and in vivo. 15kGy irradiated Spirulina showed maximum fat binding capacity (FBC,47%) and sugar binding capacity (SBC,119%). Water holding capacity, water retention capacity and swelling capacity of 15kGy irradiated Spirulina was found to be highest and were 33.68%, 40.22% and 86.96% respectively. Mice fed with irradiated Spirulina, exhibited lower weight gain, reduced blood glucose, TG, cholesterol, LDL level and higher HDL level compared to the control group although both of the groups were fed fat rich diet.
Keywords: Functional food, Spirulina, irradiation.