Utilization of Geothermal Water (Şanlıurfa-Karaali) Medium to Enhance DNA Protection and Phycocyanin in Spirulina platensis Production

Spirulina's industrial use depends on its sustainability and economic production. Geothermal water sources are well known potential water sources for Spirulina' slow-cost production. This research aimed to study the effects on Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis culture of Sanlıurfa (Karaali) geothermal water. Spirulina was cultured in a 2000 mL Erlenmeyer flask for three weeks. The Schlösser medium (SM) was substituted with 50% and 100% of the volume of the culture medium with the Sanlıurfa geothermal water. The results determined that 3.25 phycocyanin purity ratio (A620/A280), 8% phycocyanin and 38.3% protein in the nutrient medium containing 50% Sanliurfa (Karaali) geothermal water. In the Schlösser Spirulina nutrient medium, defined as the control group, the protein content of 55% and a content of phycocyanin of 16.9% was achieved a phycocyanin purity ratio of 4.43. Although the protein and phycocyanin ratios of Spirulina produced with geothermal water replaced are lower than in Schlösser medium, DNA protective activity of Spirulina produced in the geothermal water of Sanliurfa Karaali showed better protective activity than those produced in the Schlösser medium.