Combined Dietary Action of Spirulina and Probiotics Mitigates Female Reproductive Ailments in Arsenicated Rats

Abstract

Heavy metals contaminations in food and water are increased due to the environmental pollution. Managing arsenic toxicosis by dietary therapy is yet to be explored, although the conventional therapeutic strategy emphasizes the invasive chelating therapy. In this present study we elucidated the ameliorative effect of Spirulina and probiotics against arsenic-mediated female gonadal injury. The treatment was continued for 8 days (2 estrus cycles) on rats with sodium arsenite (1.0 mg/ 100g body weight) orally, but spirulina (40 mg/100g body weight) and commercially available probiotics mixture (2 mg/ 100g body weight) were added in rat chow, fresh daily. Uterine and ovarian tissue experienced a significant impairment of antioxidant status, while a pronounced ovarian follicular degeneration was apparent from the increased number of follicular atresia in arsenic treated rats. All these deleterious effects of sodium arsenite were diminished significantly by spirulina and probiotics in arsenic fed rat. Moreover, an increase in the serum levels of of homocysteine (Hcy) in association with reduced serum levels of vitamin B 12 and folic acid were mitigated in arsenic fed rats following spirulina and probiotics dietary co-administration. However, the outcome of this study may indicate that spirulina and probiotics may be incorporated in the meal as nutraceuticals in limiting arsenic-mediated health hazards.