Phenylethylamine (PEA) Among the edible micro algae, Aphanizomen flos-aquae (AFA) is unique because of the presence of Phenylethylamine. PEA is also found in foods like chocolate, but at levels significantly less. Humans produce PEA in the brain and researchers have shown brain phenylethylamine may be a neuromodulator of aminergic synapses, promotes energy and elevates mood. Phenylacetic acid, the main metabolite of PEA, is decreased in the biological fluids of depressed subjects. Researchers suggest PEA metabolism may have diagnostic value and PEA administration may be therapeutic in selected depressed patients.

Phycocyanin (PC) is unique to cyanobacteria. Chemically, PC is the major biliproteins of AFAninPlus^TM, and in humans, acts as an antioxidant and immune modulator. Clinical research has shown a deluge of immune cells overreacting to a pathogen can contribute to or trigger any number of inflammatory responses within the body. C-phycocyanin can act to inhibit the specific aspects of the inflammatory cascade (such as inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX 2) enzymatic activity) and quench free radicals involved in the inflammation pathway.

Complex polysaccharides present in AFAninPlus^TM contribute to activation of immune cells, including Natural Killer (NK) cells, the human body's primary immune defense mechanism. These cells travel in the blood stream in a state of rest, but can be immediately recruited into tissues by chemical signals and activated through various mechanisms to a) kill virus-infected and cancer cells, b) divide and make more NK cells, and c) secrete substances that attract other cells into the site. Research on the polysaccharides in DLT's Aphanizomenon flos aquae provides strong support of activation of NK cells in laboratory tests and supports immune surveillance of NK cells in the body.

 

 

Product Characteristics

AFAninPlus™                Klamath Lake Unicellular Algae Water Extract

Order                            Nostocaceae    

Family                          Aphanizomenon

Genus                           Aphanizomenon

Species                        flos aquae

Physical Characteristics

Appearance                   Ground powder (2 - 70 mesh)

Color                             Light green or dark blue green

Moisture                        2 - 7%

Density                         0.2 – 0.7 g/ml

Nutritional Information (1 gram serving size)

Typical Composition               

Calories                        3.67

Calories from Fat           0.44

Total Fat                       0.05 g

      Saturated Fat          0.03 g

      Trans Fat                0.00 g

Cholesterol                    0.00 g

Sodium                         2.24 mg

Total Carbohydrates       0.20 g

      Dietary Fiber            0.06 g

      Sugars                    0.00 g

Protein                          0.61 g

Phenylethylamine         17.00 mg

C-Phycocyanin           250.00 mg 

Total Minerals               70.00 mg         

Vitamins

B1 (Thiamine)              None Detected

B2 (Riboflavin)             36.70 mcg

B3 (Niacin)                   0.10 mg

B5 (Pantothenic Acid)   2.40 mcg

B6 (Pyridoxine)           17.20 mcg

B12 (Cobalamin)           8.00 mcg

E (alpha-tocopherol)      0.00 IU

C (Ascorbic Acid)         0.00 mg

Biotin                          0.80 mcg

Folic Acid                   1.10 mcg

Minerals

Calcium                      9.34 mg

Chromium                   0.10 mcg

Iron                            0.41 mg

Magnesium                3.70 mg

Manganese               33.20 mcg

Potassium                16.30 mg

Selenium                  None detected

Zinc 7.00 mcg

Amino Acids

Aspartic Acid              57.90 mg

Threonine                   28.70 mg

Serine                        25.30 mg

Glutamic Acid             59.30 mg

Proline                       15.40 mg

Glycine                      25.40 mg

Alanine                      48.20 mg

Valine                        30.90 mg

Methionine                   5.00 mg

Isoleucine                   22.40 mg

Leucine                      35.70 mg

Tyrosine                     19.00 mg

Phenylalanine             27.10 mg

Histidine                      6.00 mg

Lysine                       25.00 mg

Arginine                     29.10 mg                    

Microbiology

Total Plate Count                                   Less than 10,000 cfu/g

Total Coliforms                                      Less than 100 cfu/g

Mold & Yeast                                        Less than 1,000 cfu/g

S. Aureus                                             Less than 100 cfu/g

E. Coli                                                  Negative / 1 gram

Salmonella                                            Negative / 10 grams

Arsenic Inorganic                                   Not more than 2 ppm

Afllatoxins                                             None Detected

Cadmium                                              Not more than 2 ppm

Lead                                                     Not more than 2 ppm

Mercury                                                Not more than 1 ppm

Microcystin Toxin                                  Not more than 1 ppm

Organophosphorus Pesticides                USP Guidelines

Organochloride Pesticides                     USP Guidelines

Pyrethroid Pesticides                            USP Guidelines

Regulatory Status & Safety

Stability Considerations                          Stable

Incompatibility with                                 None

Hazardous Decomposition Products        None known

Special Fire Fighting Procedures             None

Unusual Fire and Explosion Hazards       None

Hazardous Polymerization:                     Will not occur

Spill / Leakage Procedures                     If material is released or spilled:
                                                                        sweep up with broom and discard.          

                                                            Water disposal method:

                                                            Dispose of in accordance with

                                                            local, state and federal regulations

                                                            with regards to fruit, seed and
                                                                        vegetable handling.

Worker Skin Protection                          Normal work wear

Worker Eye Protection                           Goggles are recommended in all

                                                            manufacturing environments

Primary Route of Exposure                     Ingestion

Effects of Over Exposure                        None

Emergency First Aid Procedures             Flush eyes with large quantities

                                                            of water, rinse, rinse other areas    

                                                            with soap and water.

                                                            Drink large amounts of water.

Drying Method, Packaging, Storage, Shelf Life

Drying Method                                       DLT Hydro—Dri^TM

Packaging                                             Food grade Mylar bag

                                                            vacuum packaged

Storage Conditions                                 Store in cool dry place, away from

                                                            extreme conditions of heat,

                                                            cold and moisture to prevent

                                                            oxidation and preserve quality.
                                                                        Do not store this product above
                                                                        100F. Store in airtight containers
                                                                        away from most sources of light
                                                                        and heat. 

Shelf Life                                              36 months from date of 
                                                                       manufacture
Applications
           Available Forms                                     Ground organic powder extract
                                                                       (2 kg minimum order)
           Typical Dose                                         1 gram per day

AFAninPlus^TM  In Vitro Testing

In vitro testing confirmed the inflammation modulation and antioxidant properties of AFAninPlus^TM (Hart et al 2007).
1. AFAninPlus^TM contains Phycocyanin, known to inhibit the enzymatic activity of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX 2) involved in the inflammation cascade.
2. Antioxidants in AFAninPlus^TM are able to enter into and protect the lipid bilayer cell membrane and protect living cells from intracellular oxidative stress.
3. AFAninPlus^TM activated NK cell expression of CD69, a marker compound that indicates increased scavenging and killing of virus containing or cancerous cells.

Clinical Study on Visual Acuity and Cognitive Function

In vivo testing confirmed consumption of AFAninPlus^TM (Jensen et al 2000):
1. Significantly improved reaction time and ability to multitask according to multi-sensory input.
2. Significantly improved visual acuity as measured by the reduction in size of the Physiological Blind Spot (PBS), when compared to placebo.
3. Showed a rapid improvement in visual acuity (within 2-10 minutes).
4. Showed a prolonged result, still effective at 1 hour after consumption.

Mechanisms of action involved in the rapid improvement are attributed in part to the PEA content of AFAninPlus^TM. Additional testing showed at least part of the effect of AFAninPlus^TM on cognitive function was due to rapid oral uptake of psychoactive compounds, such as PEA.

References

Berthold-Losleben M, Heitmann S, Himmerich H. Anti-inflammatory drugs in psychiatry. (2009). Inflammation and Allergy-Drug Targets, Sep; 8(4):266-76.

Dhabhar FS, Burke HM, Epel ES, Mellon SH, Rosser R, Reus VI, Wolkowitz OM. (2009). Low serum IL-10 concentrations and loss of regulatory association between IL-6 and IL-10 in adults with major depression. Journal of Psychiatric Research, Jul; 43(11):962-9.

Hart AN, Zaske LAM, Patterson KM, Drapeau C, Jensen GS. (2007). Natural killer cell activation and modulation of chemokine receptor profile in vitro by an extract from the cyanophyta Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. Journal of Medicinal Food, 10(3): 435-441.

Jensen GS, Ginsberg DI, Huerta P, Citton M, Drapeau C (2000). Consumption of Aphanizomenon flos aquae has rapid effects on the circulation and function of immune cells in humans. A novel approach to nutritional mobilization of the immune system. JANA, vol. 2 (3):50-58.

Jensen, GS, Carter SG, Redman KA, Benson KF, Ehmann A, Guthrie J, Turner J, Drapeau C. Cognitive enhancement and immune modulating properties of an antioxidant-rich microalgae extract, AFAninPlus^TM. SSW09 poster session.

Kim YK, Lee SW, Kim SH, Shim SH, Han SW, Choi SH, Lee BH. (2008). Differences in cytokines between non-suicidal patients and suicidal patients in major depression. Progress in Neuropsychopharmacol Biological Psychiatry, Feb 15; 32(2):356-61.

Reddy CM, Bhat VB, Kiranmai G, Reddy MN, Reddanna P, Madyastha K. (2000). Selective inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 by C-phycocyanin, a biliprotein from Spirulina platensis. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 277(3):599-603.

Sabelli HC, Fawcett J, Gusovsky F, Javaid JI, Wynn P, Edwards J, Jeffriess H, Kravitz H. (1986). Clinical studies on the phenylethylamine hypothesis of affective disorder: urine and blood phenylacetic acid and phenylalanine dietary supplements. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 47(2):66-70.

Sabelli HC, Fink P, Fawcett J, Tom C. (1996). Sustained antidepressant effect of PEA replacement. Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 8(2):168-71.

Vadiraja B, Bhat V, Madaystha K. (2000). C-Phycocyanin: A potent peroxyl radical scavenger in vivo and in vitro. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 275, 20-25.