# Wide Range Applications of Spirulina: From Earth to Space Missions

## TL;DR

Spirulina, a type of cyanobacterium, shows promise for improving health in space missions and on Earth due to its diverse medical and nutritional benefits.

## Contribution

The paper highlights Spirulina's novel potential in space healthcare and its emerging roles in treating diseases like cancer and infections.

## Key findings

- Spirulina can support long-duration space missions by sustaining astronauts' health under stress.
- Spirulina improves stem cell mobility and immune response, offering new treatment possibilities in oncology and infectious diseases.
- It has applications in various medical fields, including metabolism, ophthalmology, and nephrology.

## Abstract

Spirulina is the most studied cyanobacterium species for both pharmacological applications and the food industry. The aim of the present review is to summarize the potential benefits of the use of Spirulina for improving healthcare both in space and on Earth. Regarding the first field of application, Spirulina could represent a new technology for the sustainment of long-duration manned missions to planets beyond the Lower Earth Orbit (e.g., Mars); furthermore, it could help astronauts stay healthy while exposed to a variety of stress factors that can have negative consequences even after years. As far as the second field of application, Spirulina could have an active role in various aspects of medicine, such as metabolism, oncology, ophthalmology, central and peripheral nervous systems, and nephrology. The recent findings of the capacity of Spirulina to improve stem cells mobility and to increase immune response have opened new intriguing scenarios in oncological and infectious diseases, respectively.