Amelioration of Hepatic Encephalopathy Using Dunaliella salina Microalgae in Rats: Modulation of Hyperammonemia/TLR4

Abstract

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric disease that is developed as a complication of both acute and chronic liver failure affecting psychomotor dysfunction, memory, and concentration. This study is aimed at evaluating the therapeutic effects of Dunaliella salina (D. salina) microalgae in thioacetamide- (TAA-) induced HE in rats. HE was induced by TAA (200 mg/kg; i.p.) for three successive days. Forty male Wister albino rats were divided into 4 groups; the first group was served as a normal, and the second group was injected with TAA and served as TAA control. The third and fourth groups were administered D. salina (100 and 200 mg/kg; p.o.), respectively, after TAA injection for 7 days. The behavioral and biochemical markers as well as histological aspects of HE were estimated. This study revealed that TAA caused behavioral changes, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, nuclear pyknosis, and neurons degeneration. D. salina improved liver function and decreased oxidative stress and inflammatory mediator as TLR4 protein expression. Also, D. salina elevated HSP-25 and IGF-1 as well as improved brain histopathological alterations. In conclusion, D. salina exerted a therapeutic potential against HE via its antioxidant, antiinflammatory and cytoprotective effects.

Nattokinase attenuates bisphenol A or gamma irradiation-mediated hepatic and neural toxicity by activation of Nrf2 and suppression of inflammatory mediators in rats

“…Furthermore, impaired hepatic function and loss of liver ability to detoxify toxins are associated with lower levels of total protein and higher levels of ammonia. This agrees with Abdelgawad et al ( 2019 ) and El-Baz et al ( 2021 ) who indicated that impaired liver function decreases the total protein and elevates the levels of ammonia in the blood that crosses the blood-brain barrier and is metabolized in the brain astrocytes to glutamine. Indeed, ammonia interacts with other factors to disturb brain function (Butterworth 2019 ).…”

Microalgae-Based Biorefineries: Challenges and Future Trends to Produce Carbohydrate Enriched Biomass, High-Added Value Products and Bioactive Compounds

“…The administration of Dunaliella salina showed to revert liver disfunction, decreasing inflammation and oxidative stress by its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, as it was observed in thioacetamide- (TAA-) induced hepatic encephalopathy rat model [ 161 ].…”

The Immune Pathogenesis of Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure and the Danger Hypothesis

“…El-Baz et al. showed that D. salina hydrochloride increased HSP25 and improved brain histopathological changes in HE patients, benefiting ALF prognosis ( 70 ).…”

“…In the study of Vidyasagar et al, serum HSP25 and HSP27 had antioxidant effects in ALF and CLF patients and reduced the damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and prevented the occurrence of HE (69). El-Baz et al showed that D. salina hydrochloride increased HSP25 and improved brain histopathological changes in HE patients, benefiting ALF prognosis (70).…”