Blue (Butterfly pea flower) does not have any medicinal health benefits to it. It’s been used for centuries as a dye for textiles and as a pretty blue-tinted tea, but there’s no value to it other than adding a color. Blue Majik’s strength lies in its scientifically backed powerful anti-inflammatory and liver detoxifier effects. Blue Majik is a phycocyanin extract from organically grown Spirulina. Phycocyanin is one of the best inflammation reducers in nature. It also has neuroprotective qualities, proven to be able to scavenge excess oxidation in the brain which can otherwise cause damage to brain neurons.
A Google Scholar search for healing properties of phycocyanin since 2004 gives thousands of studies, ranging from potential cancer treatment to the effects mentioned above.
View search results here.
Yes, Blue Majik adds a beautiful blue color to drinks, but that could be done with triarylmethane dye (aka FD&C Blue No. 1). Blue Majik’s purpose is longevity and better health.
Phycocyanin and Anti-oxidant and Anti-inflammation properties:
Romay, C., Armesto, J., Remirez, D., González, R., Ledon, N., & García, I. (1998). Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of C-phycocyanin from blue-green algae.
View article here.
Liu, R., Qin, S., & Li, W. (2022). Phycocyanin: Anti-inflammatory effect and mechanism. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie, 153, 113362.
View article here.
Zhang, Y., Li, L., Qin, S., Yuan, J., Xie, X., Wang, F., Hu, S., Yi, Y., & Chen, M. (2022). C-phycocyanin alleviated cisplatin-induced oxidative stress and inflammation via gut microbiota-metabolites axis in mice. Frontiers in nutrition, 9, 996614. View article here.
Romay, C., Ledón, N., & González, R. (1998). Further studies on anti-inflammatory activity of phycocyanin in some animal models of inflammation. Inflammation research : official journal of the European Histamine Research Society ... [et al.], 47(8), 334–338. View article here.
Phycocyanin and Neuroprotective properties:
Min, S. K., Park, J. S., Luo, L., Kwon, Y. S., Lee, H. C., Shim, H. J., Kim, I. D., Lee, J. K., & Shin, H. S. (2015). Assessment of C-phycocyanin effect on astrocytes-mediated neuroprotection against oxidative brain injury using 2D and 3D astrocyte tissue model. Scientific reports, 5, 14418. View article here.
Liu, Q., Huang, Y., Zhang, R., Cai, T., & Cai, Y. (2016). Medical Application of Spirulina platensis Derived C-Phycocyanin. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2016, 7803846. View article here.
Marín-Prida, J., Liberato, J. L., Llópiz-Arzuaga, A., Stringhetta-Padovani, K., Pavón-Fuentes, N., Leopoldino, A. M., Cruz, O. G., González, I. H., Pérez, M. L., Camins, A., Ferreira Dos Santos, W., Uyemura, S. A., Pardo-Andreu, G. L., & Pentón-Rol, G. (2022). Novel Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms Involved in the Neuroprotective Effects of C-Phycocyanin against Brain Ischemia in Rats. Current pharmaceutical design, 28(14), 1187–1197. View article here.
Pentón-Rol, G., Marín-Prida, J., & McCarty, M. F. (2021). C-Phycocyanin-derived Phycocyanobilin as a Potential Nutraceutical Approach for Major Neurodegenerative Disorders and COVID-19- induced Damage to the Nervous System. Current neuropharmacology, 19(12), 2250–2275. View article here.
Phycocyanin and Liver protective properties:
Vadiraja, B. B., Gaikwad, N. W., & Madyastha, K. M. (1998). Hepatoprotective effect of C-phycocyanin: protection for carbon tetrachloride and R-(+)-pulegone-mediated hepatotoxicty in rats. Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 249(2), 428–431. View article here.
Oumayma, B., Wahid, K., Soumaya, G., Olfa, T., Ben Rhouma, K., Mohsen, S., & Dorsaf, H. (2023). Phycocyanin improved alcohol-induced hepatorenal toxicity and behavior impairment in Wistar rats. Drug and chemical toxicology, 46(6), 1187–1192. View article here.
Liu, Z., Fu, X., Huang, W., Li, C., Wang, X., & Huang, B. (2018). Photodynamic effect and mechanism study of selenium-enriched phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis against liver tumors. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology, 180, 89–97. View article here.