Cushuro(Nostoc sphaericum): Habitat, physicochemical characteristics, nutritional composition, forms of consumptionand medicinal properties

Abstract

Cushuro (Nostoc sphaericum) is a gelatinous spherical alga that contains innumerable highly nutritious chemical compounds, especially rich in ironand protein. They form both microscopic and macroscopic colonies on various aquatic environments and in high places above 3000 meters above sea levelas in the departments of: Ancash, Junin, Cajamarca, Huánuco, Cusco and Puno, where there are lagoons withcrystalline and pure waters rich in nitrogen, which favor their growth. The different recently harvested cushuro species contain 35 to 42% protein, fat and minerals (Ca, P, Fe, Na, K); In addition, they contain all the essential amino acids and are rich in vitamins B1, B2, B5 and B8. Since pre-Columbian times it was consumed as a complementary food in diets, and today, it is consumed as a supplement or stabilizer. This, in turn, is considered the food of the future due to its recent and different uses and applications in sectors such as medicine, the food and aerospace industry; sectors where it has become indispensable thanks to its organoleptic and nutritional properties. The purpose of this work wasto compile the various investigations related to cushuro so that the population knows about its benefits, which will be key to protect the health of the population, since they currently suffer from different nutritional problems.