Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences http://www.jebas.org ISSN No. 2320 – 8694 Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences, March - 2021; Volume – 9(Spl-1- GCSGD_2020) page S38 – S42 THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS OF Spirulina AGAINST HUMAN PATHOGENIC VIRUSES Sharolynne Xiao Tong Liang 1 , Ling Shing Wong 2 , Anto Cordelia Tanislaus Antony Dhanapal 3 , Prakash Balu 4 , Sinouvassane Djearamane 1* 1 Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar, 31900 Malaysia 2 Life Science Division, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, INTI International University, Nilai, 71800 Malaysia 3 Department of Chemical Science, Faculty of Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar, 31900 Malaysia 4 Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600117, India Received – July 18, 2020; Revision – September 17, 2020; Accepted – January 03, 2021 Available Online – March 25, 2021 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18006/2021.9(Spl-1-GCSGD_2020).S38.S42 ABSTRACT Viruses can spread worldwide and the early detection of emerging infectious diseases and outbreaks in humans and animals is important for effective surveillance and prevention. Viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), swine flu, and influenza virus are some of the viruses that spread diseases worldwide. However, the non-availability of effective antiviral drugs and the drug-resistance among the virus and host have become the major problems in controlling viral infections. The natural products from microalgae can be an alternative therapeutic agent to control viral infections in humans. Spirulina is a well-known cyanobacterium that has been consumed by humans as a food supplement for more than centuries without side-effects. Spirulina possesses high nutritional values and provides numerous health benefits to the consumers. Spirulina can be an alternative natural therapeutic agent for numerous virus infections as it contains several bioactive compounds with proven antiviral effect on enveloped viruses (Herpes simplex virus, measles virus, mumps virus) and non-enveloped viruses (astrovirus, rotavirus) by preventing the spread of the virus in the host cells. Spirulina also serves as a natural supplement that strengthens the immune system. This review focuses on the antiviral properties and immunostimulant effects of Spirulina as a potential therapeutic supplement on human health. * Corresponding author KEYWORDS Spirulina Cyanobacteria Antiviral Immunostimulant E-mail: sinouvassane@utar.edu.my/biochsinouvas07@gmail.com (Sinouvassane Djearamane) Peer review under responsibility of Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences. All the articles published by Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License Based on a work at www.jebas.org. Production and Hosting by Horizon Publisher India [HPI] (http://www.horizonpublisherindia.in/). All rights reserved.