Phycocyanin is an important light-harvesting pigment antenna protein in cyanobacteria, rhodophyta, cryptophyta, and glaucophyta, with a variety of bioactivities. The introduction of purification and bioactivities of phycocyanin contributes to a significant improvement in developing it into final processed products. In fact, the knowledge of phycocyanin has experienced a rapid increase in the past 20 years, and has promoted the relevant technological revolution with a decisive contribution to final application. The purpose of this review is to critically introduce the present knowledge of purification and bioactivities of phycocyanin, and to illustrate main problems and prospects.
Keywords: Phycocyanin; bioactivities; main problems and prospects; purification.