Chlorella Sorokiniana is a unicellular, freshwater, bluish green microalga. It is a nutrient-dense, alkaline-forming superfood providing protein, fiber and essential fatty acids, including linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid (EFA) in the omega-6 family that is found primarily in plant-based oils.

EFAs are essential to human health but cannot be made in the body. For this reason, they must be obtained from food. EFAs are needed for normal brain function, growth and development, bone health, stimulation of skin and hair growth, regulation of metabolism, and maintenance of reproductive processes.

Chlorella Sorokiniana also offers a full spectrum of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, antioxidants, mucopolysaccharides, and phytonutrients. Among these nutrients are significant amounts of Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K1, all the major B vitamins (including B12); iron, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc; an abundance of naturally occurring beta-carotene and lutein.

In addition, Chlorella Sorokiniana contains the highest levels of nucleic acids (RNA and DNA), including the unique nucleotide-peptide complex known as Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF). Chlorella Sokiniana also contains the highest chlorophyll levels among plants.

For food, they are cultivated in open, non-GMO and pesticide-free, freshwater ponds where they receive excllent exposure to sunlight throughout all stages of growth. These ideal conditions are necessary to enable the production of the very high-quality specimens packed with exceptional nutritional value. As food, they are processed to become readily digestible, enabling excellent assimilation by the body. Because it supplies so many essential nutrients in readily usable forms, Chlorella Sorokiniana is an ideal ingredient for all individuals desiring higher levels of nutrition.

Nutritional Considerations and Applications:
Chlorella is a wholesome natural superfood that has existed for billions of years. As demonstrated by fossil remains, Chlorella's genetic integrity has remained constant for over two billion years.



The above chlorella fossil dates to the preCambrian period. It has survived because its tough outer shell protected its genetic integrity. It is one of the most efficient foods in using and concentrating sunshine, as evident by its high chlorophyll content and rapid reproduction rate.

There are many types of chlorella within the population of photosynthetic organisms and they form the foundation of the Food Chain. They produce half of the worlds Carbohydrates and are among the major producers of Oxygen in the Atmosphere.

Chlorella Sorokiniana is outstanding in that it possesses a bluish pigment (Phycocyanin), which is itself, a powerful natural anitoxidant and a stable protein. In addition to the high-quality protein (its amino acid profile is similar to egg), essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, the chlorella's high levels of nucleic acids boost significantly its nutritional and therapeutic value. The dietary intake of nucleic acid rich chlorella has been shown to be a useful adjunct in protocols for a wide variety of health conditions, including cardiovascular ailments (and lowering cholesterol and triglycerides), cancer, liver conditions, kidney conditions, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, digestive conditions, tissue detoxification (including detoxification of heavy metals), skin problems, and strengthening of immune function.

Chlorella Sorokiniana has demonstrated its capacity to stimulate the healing in the body. It promotes growth in young individuals and allows repair to damaged tissues in mature individuals. It has also been shown to have a normalizing and strengthening effects on many tissues and metabolic pathways. For these reasons, it is often considered by scientists to be an adaptogen (a "normalizer") or adaptogenic food.

One of primary reasons proposed for such effects are its high levels of nucleic acids (RNA and DNA), which appear to be related to the unique ability of Chlorella Sorokiniana to reproduce itself extremely rapidly (as much as quadrupling itself four times in 24 hours, i.e. 1 to 16 times). In humans and animals, nucleic acids are associated with healing and anti-aging activity, as well as with improvements in intercellular communication.

Chlorella as Food

Chlorella is one of the most extensively studied plants in the world. The earliest laboratory cultures of chlorella were developed in the 1890s by the dutch microbiologist by M. W. Beijerinck, who confirmed its edibility. During the first half of the twentieth century, various German scientists, including Linder, Hardner, and Huick studied chlorella for its potential use as a food source. In the United States, a pilot study conducted at Stanford Research Institute in 1948 concluded that chlorella could be successfully grown and harvested in large quantities as a food. Japanese researchers in the 1950s pioneered the development of technology to grow chlorella on a commercial scale. Chlorella subsequently became a subject for research around the world. For example, the American scientist Melvin Calvin won the 1961 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his studies of photosynthesis, in which he used chlorella to demonstrate the steps by which plants turn carbon dioxide and water into sugar. Research on chlorella as a food source continues today and it has become a major food source for millions of people around the world.

Chlorophyll and the Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF)

The name "chlorella" reflects the extremely high levels of chlorophyll (5-10 times more than any other algae) it contains. Chlorophyll is an internal cleanser and deodorizer. Due to its high magnesium content, chlorophyll itself has proven to be a useful adjunct in protocols for wound healing, cardiovascular health, combating anemia (and stimulating production of red blood cells), and improving cellular oxygenation. Chlorophyll also has been demonstrated to be effective when used topically.

Although cholorophyll had been isolated earlier, it was not until 1913 that German chemist Dr. Richard Wilstatter identified its function in plants. The use of chlorophyll in healing was introduced as early as the pioneering work of Swiss-born scientist Emile Burgi. Burgi and Rollet (1930) were the first to demonstrate that green plant extracts could stimulate growth in tissue. Later, Smith and Livingston (1943) proved that chlorophyll preparations could accelerate healing in wounds. Smith also showed that chlorophyll in concentrations between .05 and .5 in tissue cultures caused immediate growth responses in fibroblasts (wound repairing cells).

In the early 1950s, the Japanese researcher Fujimaki separated a previously undiscovered substance from a hot-water extract of chlorella that is now known as "Chlorella Growth Factor" (CGF). CGF is a nucleotide-peptide complex comprised mostly of nucleic acid derivatives. The sugars identified in the nucleotide include glucose, mannose, rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, and xylose. Amino acids found in the peptide include glutamine, alanine, serine, glycine, proline, asparagine, threonine, lysine, cysteine, tyrosine, and leucine. It is known that CGF is produced during intense photosynthesis and enables chlorella to grow extremely rapidly. During this process, a single cell may multiply into four daughter cells as rapidly as every 20 hours. Chlorella Sorokiniana is capable of multiplying to 16 in 24hrs. CGF not only promotes this rate of reproduction, but also is itself rapidly increased. In Japan, Dr. Yoshiro Takechi showed that CGF stimulates lactobaccilus (the "good" bacteria) to grow at four times the usual rate. Experiments with microorganisms, young animals, and children have demonstrated that CGF promotes faster than normal growth. In adults and mature organisms, CGF appears to enhance the functions of nucleic acids at the cellular level that relate to the production of proteins, enzymes, and energy, as well as to stimulate tissue repair and offer protection against toxic substances at the cellular level.

For several years, with the support of the International Chlorella Company in Taiwan and under the supervision of the Research and Development Foundation, the National Cheng Kung University has been conducting “Chlorella Research Projects” to investigate Chlorella Sorokiniana’s efficiency to lower hyperlipidemia.*

The project was designed to study the compliance of usage and potential side effects of ingesting a large dosage of the chlorella for one month. Biochemistry and hematological studies revealed no significant changes on liver functions, renal functions, hemograms, and electrolytes one month after ingestion. The compliance of ingestion was good without significant side effects.

A few individuals had mild constipation which could be solved by drinking water. A very significant finding in the phase one trial was the decrease of cholesterol levels from an average of 196 mg% before trial to 175 mg% one month later (p<0.009). The low density lipoprotein (LDL) also decreased significantly. The promising results in this pilot study help to explore further the therapeutic or health effects of the chlorella lowering hyperlipidemia in a more systematic way.

A Pilot Study on the Effects of  Chlorella Sorokiniana on Hyperlipidemia in Human Volunteers.

This project was conducted to further explore the effects of the chlorella on hyperlipidemia in human volunteers based on a previous study. A total of 30 adults (16 males, 14 females) volunteered to use 30 tablets per day of Chlorella Sorokiniana extracts for one month.

The serum cholesterol, tryglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were measured before, during, and one month after taking Chlorella Sorokiniana extracts. A 10% - 20% lowering effect of cholesterol level was demonstrated (p<0.009), particularly for those who had hyperlipidemia (>200 mg/ml).

Interestingly, 4 of 6 individuals with high glucose levels showed good control of their blood sugar level, suggesting a potential effect on the control of blood glucose. The LDL levels also had decreased.

Chlorella Sorokiniana has been demonstrated to have a beneficial effect on the lowering of cholesterol and LDL levels in human volunteers. A potential effect on blood sugar control was also noted.

Copyright 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Bio-Science Department, Abiko Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), 1646 Abiko, Abiko-shi, Chiba 270-1194, Japan.

The photosynthetic performance of a conical, helical tubular photobioreactor (HTP) incorporating Chlorella Sorokiniana was investigated under conditions of high temperature and light intensity during midsummer in an outdoor environment. Although the culture medium temperature exceeded 40 degrees C for approximately 5 h each day, peaking at 47.5 degrees C under sunny conditions, a photosynthetic productivity of 30.0 g x m(-2) (installation area) x day(-1) and a photosynthetic efficiency of 8.66% [photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), 400-700 nm] were achieved. A maximum photosynthetic productivity of 33.2 g x m(-2) x day(-1) was achieved on a sunny day, when solar energy input was also maximal (11.5 MJ x m(-2) x day(-1) [PAR]). On the other hand, a maximum photosynthetic efficiency of 9.54% was obtained on a day that was rainy in the morning and cloudy in the afternoon, and there was relatively little solar energy input. The average daily photosynthetic efficiency over the two culture periods (August 4 to 7 and August 10 to 13, 1999) was 7.25%. Thus, a high level of photosynthetic performance was achieved in the conical HTP incorporating Chlorella sorokiniana despite the fact that culture medium temperature was not controlled. The use of Chlorella sorokiniana in the conical HTP should be a good choice to produce microalgal biomass during the summer under field conditions.

Glucose-6P dehydrogenase in Chlorella sorokiniana (211/8k): an enzyme with unusual characteristics.

PMID: 16160846 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Dipartimento delle Scienze Biologiche-Sez. Biologia Vegetale, Universita di Napoli "Federico II", Via Foria, 223, 80139, Naples, Italy, sergio.esposito@cds.unina.it.

In Chlorella Sorokiniana (211/8k), glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH-EC 1.1.1.49) activity is similar in both N-starved cells and nitrate-grown algae when expressed on a PCV basis. A single G6PDH isoform was purified from Chlorella cells grown under different nutrient conditions; the presence of a single G6PDH was confirmed by native gels stained for enzyme activity and by Western blots. The algal G6PDH is recognised only by antibodies raised against higher plants plastidic protein, but not by chloroplastic and cytosolic isoform-specific antisera. Purified G6PDH showed kinetic parameters similar to plastidic isoforms of higher plants, suggesting a different biochemical structure which would confer peculiar regulative properties to the algal G6PDH with respect to higher plants enzymes. The most remarkable property of algal G6PDH is represented by the response to NADPH inhibition. The algal enzyme is less sensitive to NADPH effects compared to higher plants G6PDH: Ki(NADPH) is 103 muM for G6PDH from nitrogen-starved C. sorokiniana, similarly to root plastidic P2-G6PDH. In nitrate-grown C. sorokiniana the Ki(NADPH) decreased to 48 muM, whereas other kinetic parameters remained unchanged. These results will allow further investigations in order to rule out possible modifications of the enzyme, and/or the expression of a different G6PDH isoform during nitrate assimilation.

Mitochondrial electron transport as a source for nitric oxide in the unicellular green alga Chlorella sorokiniana.

PMID: 15474028 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Albrecht v. Haller Institut fur Pflanzenwissenschaften, Untere Karspule 2, 37073 Gottingen, Germany. rtischn@gwdg.de

Wild type (WT), and nitrate reductase (NR)- and nitrite-reductase (NiR)-deficient cells of Chlorella sorokiniana were used to characterize nitric oxide (NO) emission. The NO emission from nitrate-grown WT cells was very low in air, increased slightly after addition of nitrite (200 microM), but strongly under anoxia. Importantly, even completely NR-free mutants, as well as cells grown on tungstate, emitted NO when fed with nitrite under anoxia. Therefore, this NO production from nitrite was independent of NR and other molybdenum cofactor enzymes. Cyanide and inhibitors of mitochondrial complex III, myxothiazol or antimycin A, but not salicylhydroxamic acid (inhibitor of alternative oxidase) inhibited NO production by NR-free cells. In contrast, NiR-deficient cells growing on nitrate accumulated nitrite and emitted NO at very high equal rates in air and anoxia. This NO emission was 50% inhibited by salicylhydroxamic acid, indicating that in these cells the alternative oxidase pathway had been induced and reduced nitrite to NO. Copyright 2004 Elsevier B.V.

Removal and recovery of nickel(II) from aqueous solution by loofa sponge-immobilized biomass of Chlorella Sorokiniana: characterization studies.

PMID: 15081166 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Department of Biology, Government Islamia College for Women, Cooper Road, Lahore, Pakistan.

The biosorption process for the removal of nickel(II) by loofa sponge-immobilized biomass of Chlorella Sorokiniana (LIBCS), a newly developed immobilized biosorbent, was characterized. Effects of environmental factors on metal uptake capacity of LIBCS were studied and compared with free biomass of C. sorokiniana (FBCS). Nickel(II) removal by LIBCS was found to be influenced by pH of the solution, initial metal concentration, and biomass concentration. The biosorption of nickel(II) ions by both LIBCS and FBCS increased as the initial concentration of nickel(II) ions increased in the medium. No loss to biosorption capacity of LIBCS for nickel(II) was found due to the presence of loofa sponge, indeed as compared to FBCS an increase of 25.3% was noted in the biosorption capacity of LIBCS. Maximum biosorption capacities for FBCS and LIBCS were found as 48.08 and 60.38 mg nickel(II)/g, respectively, whereas the amount of nickel(II) ions adsorbed on the plain loofa sponge was 6.1mg/g. During these biosorption studies, LIBCS exhibited excellent physical and chemical stability without any significant release/loss of microalgal biomass from loofa sponge matrix. The kinetics of nickel(II) removal was extremely fast reaching at equilibrium in about 15 min for LIBCS and 20 min for FBCS. The biosorption equilibrium was well described by the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. The biosorption capacities were found to be solution pH dependent and the maximum adsorption was found at a solution pH 4-5. The LIBCS could be regenerated using 75 mM HCl, with up to 98% recovery. The LIBCS were shown to be robust and stable with little decrease in the nickel(II) uptake capacity when used in consecutive seven biosorption-desorption cycles. Continuous removal of nickel(II) from electroplating effluent by LIBCS packed in fixed bed column bioreactor confirm the possibility of developing a biological treatment process for the removal of toxic metals from authentic wastewater.

Evidence for a plasma-membrane-bound nitrate reductase involved in nitrate uptake of Chlorella sorokiniana.

PMID: 11537722 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Pharmaphysiologisches Institut, Universitat Gottingen, Federal Republic of Germany.

Anti-nitrate-reductase (NR) immunoglobulin-G (IgG) fragments inhibited nitrate uptake into Chlorella cells but had no affect on nitrate uptake. Intact anti-NR serum and preimmune IgG fragments had no affect on nitrate uptake. Membrane-associated NR was detected in plasma-membrane (PM) fractions isolated by aqueous two-phase partitioning. The PM-associated NR was not removed by sonicating PM vesicles in 500 mM NaCl and 1 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and represented up to 0.8% of the total Chlorella NR activity. The PM NR was solubilized by Triton X-100 and inactivated by Chlorella NR antiserum. Plasma-membrane NR was present in ammonium-grown Chlorella cells that completely lacked soluble NR activity. The subunit sizes of the PM and soluble NRs were 60 and 95 kDa, respectively, as determined by sodium-dodecyl-sulfate electrophoresis and western blotting.

High photosynthetic productivity of green microalga Chlorella Sorokiniana.

PMID: 10982230 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Bio-Science Department, Abiko Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Chiba, Japan. masahiko@criepi.denken.or.jp

The batch culture of a newly isolated strain of a green microalga, Chlorella sorokiniana, was carried out using a conical helical tubular photobioreactor. The isolate was capable of good growth at 40 degrees C under an airstream enriched with 10% CO2. The maximum photosynthetic productivity was 34.4 g of dry biomass/(m2 of installation area x d) (12-h light/12-h dark cycle) when the cells were illuminated with an average photosynthetic photon flux density (photosynthetically active radiation ([PAR] 400-700 nm) simulating the outdoors in central Japan (0.980 mmol photons/[m2 x s]). This corresponded to a photosynthetic efficiency of 8.67% (PAR), which was defined as the percentage of the light energy recovered as biomass (394 kJ/[reactor x d]) to the total light energy received (4545 kJ/[reactor x d]). A similarly high photosynthetic efficiency (8.12% [PAR]) was also attained in the combined presence of 10% CO2, 100 ppm of NO, and 25 ppm of SO2. Moreover, good photosynthetic productivity was also obtained under high temperature and high light intensity conditions (maximum temperature, 46.5 degrees C; 1.737 mmol photons/[m2 x s]), when simulating the strong irradiance of the midday summer sun. This strain thus appears well suited for practical application for converting CO2 present in the stack gases emitted by thermal power plants and should be feasible even during the hot summer weather.

Alternative splicing of a precursor-mRNA encoded by the Chlorella Sorokiniana NADP-specific glutamate dehydrogenase gene yields mRNAs for precursor proteins of isozyme subunits with different ammonium affinities.