Innovations from the ocean - Research & development at Ocean Pharma
The development department of ocean pharma® is nature. We specifically search for natural substances whose properties are of particular benefit to humans and develop extraction and processing methods with three main objectives:
- We bring fabrics into a form that makes them convenient to use on a daily basis, ...
- ... utilizes and enhances the potential of the natural substance to a high degree...
- ... and has a consistently reproducible quality.
Achieving all goals simultaneously is an art that we have been optimizing for over three decades in collaboration with leading scientists and universities and are constantly perfecting according to the latest findings.
In the end, we always want to be able to say: … it works, of course!”
One particular example is our microalgae active ingredient Spiralin®. The development was pursued until a patented standardized extract was obtained.
Spirulina microalgae are among the oldest organisms on earth. They have existed for 3.6 billion years. Viruses, bacteria and fungi are natural enemies against which these microalgae have developed simple but highly efficient defense mechanisms, without which survival would not have been possible to this day. For example, special polysaccharides prevent viruses from penetrating healthy cells.¹
The selected and specially prepared extracts used in the Spirularin® and skinicer® product lines show in experimental studies that these protective effects are very pronounced and can also protect human skin cells very efficiently.²
¹ Prof. Pulz, Potsdam: OM & Nutrition, European Journal for Orthomolecular and Related Medicine, No. 131, 09/2010
² Prof. Dr. med. Kristian Reich: Kosmetische Medizin, 32 Jahrgang, 2011, Ausgabe 2.11
Cesra/Ocean Pharma awarded BSFZ seal for research and development
The Federal Office for Research Allowances (BSFZ) awards Cesra and its subsidiary Ocean Pharma the BSFZ seal, confirming their innovative strength and research expertise. This seal is only awarded to companies that carry out research and development projects eligible for funding under the research allowance and meet the high requirements of the Research Allowance Act. The award underlines the continuous commitment of Cesra and Ocean Pharma to the development of innovative solutions.
In vitro study: Antibacterial and antifungal effect of an Arthrospira platensis extract (syn.: Spirulina platensis)
A recently published study investigated the antimicrobial activity of an extract of Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) against various bacterial and fungal pathogens. The results showed that the spirulina extract tested could be used as an effective, natural broad-spectrum antimicrobial, with potential applications in medicine and the food industry.
Publication date: January 31, 2025
Quelle: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1934578X251314702
Calcium spirulan from Spirulina platensis: A promising topical treatment for molluscum contagiosum in children
The efficacy of a cream containing 1.5% calcium spirulan (Ca-SP) and 1% of a defined microalgae extract (Spiralin®) for the treatment of molluscum contagiosum (MC) in children was investigated in an open observational study. MC is a common viral skin infection in childhood for which there are limited therapeutic options. The study included 31 children with active MC lesions, 26 of whom completed treatment. Application of Spirularin® VS Cream twice daily for an average of 3.9 months resulted in complete healing of the lesions in 73.1% of the children (19 out of 26). No bacterial skin infections or adverse skin reactions were observed during treatment. These results suggest that the Ca-SP-containing cream is an effective and safe treatment option for children with active MC lesions. However, further studies in larger, controlled trials are needed to confirm these results.
Publication date: August 2, 2023
Calcium spirulan from spirulina: a promising alternative for the prophylaxis of herpes infections
The study investigated the antiviral effect of calcium spirulan (Ca-SP), a sulfated polysaccharide derived from the microalgae Spirulina platensis, against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). In vitro, Ca-SP showed at least comparable efficacy to acyclovir by blocking the attachment and penetration of the virus into human keratinocytes. In addition, Ca-SP inhibited the penetration of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV-8). In a clinical observational study with 198 participants prone to recurrent herpes labialis due to permanent lip cosmetics, a cream containing Ca-SP proved to be more effective in prophylaxis than an acyclovir cream. These results suggest that Ca-SP-containing extracts from spirulina could potentially be used for the preventive treatment of herpes labialis and possibly also against other herpes virus infections.
Publication date: September 2, 2015