Part of the global effort to identify natural substances with an immune system boosting or anti-cancer effect focuses on blue-green
algae. One unusual phytonutrient in blue-green algae is the natural blue protein pigment, phycocyanin. In research in Japan, phycocyanin was taken orally by mice with liver cancer. Survival rate of the treatment group was significantly higher than the control group not given phycocyanin. After five
weeks, 90% of the phycocyanin group survived, but only 25% of the control group. After eight weeks, 25% of the phycocyanin group still
survived, yet none of the control group was alive. This suggests phycocyanin may increase survival of cancer stricken organisms.

In another study, after two weeks the white blood cells (lymphocyte activity) of a phycocyanin group were higher than the control group and higher than or equal to a normal group without cancer. This suggests phycocyanin raises lymphocyte activity. The lymph system’s general function is to maintain healthy organs in the body, and protect against cancer, ulcers, bleeding piles and other diseases. These results suggest phycocyanin acts not by a limited attack on local cancer, but by strengthening the body’s resistance through the lymph system. Phycocyanin may be active in preventing
degenerative organ diseases by boosting immunity.

A Japanese patent states a small dosage of phycocyanin daily maintains or accelerates normal control cell functions that prevents generation of malignancy such as cancer or inhibits its growth or recurrence.22 The patent recommends a phycocyanin dosage in a range of 0.25 to 2.5 grams per day. Spirulina with 15% phycocyanin content would mean the patent recommended adult dosage would be filled by consuming 1.7 to 17 grams per day, making about ten grams a day a useful level.

Chinese scientists documented phycocyanin stimulates hematopoesis (creation of blood), emulating the hormone erythropoetin (EPO). EPO is produced by healthy kidneys and regulates bone marrow stem cell production of red blood cells. They claim phycocyanin regulated white blood cell production, even when bone marrow stem cells are damaged by toxic chemicals or radiation