Chemoprevention of Rat Mammary Carcinogenesis by Spirulina

Abstract

Spirulina (SP) (Arthrospira platensis; previously Spirulina platensis) is a filamentous blue-green microalga (cyanobacterium) with potent dietary phytoantioxidant and anticancerous properties. We investigated the chemopreventive effect of SP against 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat breast carcinogenesis, and further studied its underlying mechanisms of action in vitro. Remarkably, SP cleared DMBA-induced rat mammary tumors, which was clearly confirmed by morphological and histological methods. SP supplementation reduced the incidence of breast tumors from 87% to 13%. At the molecular level, immunohistochemical analysis revealed that SP supplementation reduced expression of both Ki-67 and estrogen α. More interestingly, molecular analysis in the in vitro experiments indicated that SP treatment inhibited cell proliferation by 24 hours, which was accompanied by increased p53 expression, followed by increased expression of its downstream target gene, Cdkn1a (alias p21 or p21(Waf1/Cip1)). In addition, SP increased Bax and decreased Bcl-2 expression, indicating induction of apoptosis by 48 hours after SP treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first report of in vivo chemopreventive effect of SP against DMBA-induced breast carcinogenesis in rat, supporting its potential use in chemoprevention of cancer.

Edible Cyanobacterial Genus Arthrospira: Actual State of the Art in Cultivation Methods, Genetics, and Application in Medicine

“…Beaten cancer cells are enfeebled and incapable of rejuvenation. Ouhtit et al ( 2014 ) confirmed that an A. platensis treatment of DMBA-induced rat mammary tumor decreased the cancer incidence from 87 to 13%. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that supplementation with “Spirulina” reduced the expression of Ki-67 and estrogen α.…”

Complementary/Alternative Medicine Strategies for Prevention and or Cure of Breast Cancer: A Review

“…Spirulina treatment induced a desquamation of the neoplastic cells leading to eradication of the tumors. A normal epithelial layer formed once the tumor was eradicated [19]. In conclusion, SP exhibited remarkable antitumor activity by inhibiting mammary tumor cell proliferation induced by DMBA in rats.…”

“…We have conducted extensive in vitro and in vivo investigations on the effects of C-phycocyanin and spirulina [19]. We utilized MCF7 breast cancer cells for in vitro studies.…”

Spirulina platensisLacks Antitumor Effect against Solid Ehrlich Carcinoma in Female Mice

“…Yogianti et al [ 33 ] showed that spirulina exerts antitumor effects against UVB-induced skin tumor development in mice. In addition, it has been reported that spirulina exerts a chemopreventive effect against 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced breast carcinogenesis [ 34 ] and against dibutyl nitrosamine-induced liver cytotoxicity and carcinogenesis [ 12 ] in rat. The discrepancy between these data and our results might be attributed to differences in the experimental conditions, the model of the solid tumor used, or the limited ability of spirulina to penetrate through Ehrlich solid tumor tissue and to reach all of the tumor cells in a potentially lethal concentration.…”