## 4 Applications of _Chlorella vulgaris_ in Food, Feed, and Medicine
### Applications in Food  
_C. vulgaris_ has gained significant popularity in the food industry, primarily as a dietary supplement and functional food ingredient due to its impressive nutrient density and \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Compound(s)** & **Use** & **Bioactivity** & **Description** & **Reference(s)** \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Carotenoids (lutein, beta-carotene)} & \multirow{4}{*}{Food, Feed, Medicine} & Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Anticancer, Neuroprotective, Color enhancer & Neutralizes reactive oxygen species and protects cells from oxidative damage, particularly in the skin and eyes. Enhances the coloration of skin and egg yolks in poultry and other animals & [44, 59, 60, 61, 120] \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Chlorophyll} & \multirow{4}{*}{Food, Medicine} & Antioxidant, Anticancer, Ductoxification, Immune function & Scaveges free radicals, reduces oxidative stress, protects against chronic diseases, and aids in detoxifying carcinogens. & [4, 13, 25, 39, 120] \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Fatty Acids} & \multirow{4}{*}{Food, Medicine} & Antimicrobial, Anti-inflammatory, Lipid-lowering effect & Inhibits bacterial and fungal growth, reduces inflammation, and lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels. & [31, 68, 85, 103, 104] \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Proteins} & \multirow{4}{*}{Food, Feed, Medicine} & Cell growth and repair, Immunomodulatory, Anticancer & Stimulus immune responses, including cytokine production (IFN-\(\gamma\), IL-2), and enhances the activity of macrophages, NK cells, and T cells. & [20, 65, 67, 73] \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Glycoproteins} & \multirow{4}{*}{Medicine} & \multirow{4}{*}{Detoxification} & Binds and eliminates heavy metals (e.g., mercury, lead, cadmium) from the body and mitigates toxic effects of pollutants. & [111, 112, 116, 117, 121] \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Peptides} & \multirow{4}{*}{Food, Feed, Medicine} & Antimicrobial, Cell growth and repair, & Inhibits the growth of various bacterial pathogens, including _Staphylococcus aureus_ and _E. coli_. & [84] \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Nucleotides} & \multirow{4}{*}{Medicine} & Immunomodulatory, Antioxidant, Anti-cancer & Cellular metabolism improves immune function and cell repair, and it contributes to DNA and RNA synthesis and participates in energy transfer. Improves growth performance and disease resistance. & [55, 56, 57, 58] \\ \cline{3-3}  & & & Antioxidant, Anti-cancer cell’s proliferative effect. & \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Polysaccharides} & \multirow{4}{*}{Food, Feed, Medicine} & Anti-inflammatory, Immunomodulatory, Antidiabetic, Antiviral, Antimicrobial, Detoxification & Enhances antioxidant defenses, suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines, regulates blood glucose levels. & [20, 65, 66, 67] \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Dietary Fibres} & \multirow{4}{*}{Food, Feed, Medicine} & Digestive health, Prebiotic effect, Cholesterol-lowering effect, Weight management & Promotes regular bowel movements, stimulates beneficial gut bacteria, binds with cholesterol, and provides a sense of satiety. & [3, 7, 17, 45] \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Secondary Metabolites (e.g., polyphenols, phytosterols)} & \multirow{4}{*}{Medicine} & Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Anticancer, Cholesterol-lowering effects & Protects against oxidative damage, suppresses inflammation, reduces cholesterol absorption in the intestines, and promotes apoptosis in cancer cells. & [18, 22, 31] \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Sulphated Polysaccharides} & \multirow{4}{*}{Medicine} & Antiviral & Prevus viral entry into host cells, effective against enveloped viruses such as HSV, hepatitis C, and HIV. & [41, 42, 43] \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: _Chlorella vulgaris’s major chemical compounds, associated bioactivities, and utilization._bioactive properties. With protein content ranging from 50-60% of its dry weight, _C. vulgaris_ provides an excellent plant-based protein source, which is especially valuable in vegetarian and vegan diets as a sustainable alternative to animal-based proteins.