Effects of Phycocyanin Extract on Prostaglandin E2 Levels in Mouse Ear Inflammation Test

Abstract

Recently it was demonstrated that phycocyanin, a biliprotein isolated from microalgae Spirulina, exerts anti-inflammatory activity in several animal models of inflammation. In this report, the effects of phycocyamin on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentrations and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity were determined in arachidonic acid (AA) and 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse ear oedema, respectively. Phycocyanin (50-200 mg/kg p.o.) inhibited in a dose-dependent manner PGE2 levels in mouse ear treated with AA. Also, phycocyanin (100-400 mg/kg p.o.) moderately reduced PLA2 activity in TPA-induced mouse ear inflammation test. In this model triamcinolone (10 mg/kg p.o.) used as reference drug exerted a remarkable inhibitory effect on PLA2 activity. These results provide the first evidence that the anti-inflammatory effects of phycocyanin may result, at least partially, from inhibition of PGE2 production and a moderate inhibition of PLA2 activity.

Evaluation of protective efficacy of Spirulina platensis against collagen-induced arthritis in rats

“…These effects are presumed to be mediated by the scavenging action of phycocyanin against reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as OH, RO and RO 2 , anti-lipoperoxidative activity, and inhibitory effects on prostaglandin and leukotriene biosynthesis (Romay et al 1999(Romay et al , 2000. The inhibitory effect of Spirulina on mast cell mediated-type allergic reaction in rats has also been reported (Kim et al 1998).…”

C-Phycocyanin ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and induces regulatory T cells

“…C-Pc, has significant antioxidant and radical scavenging properties [7,8], it inhibits mouse ear inflammation [9], prevents acetic acid induced rat colitis [10] and has anti-arthritic properties [11]. It also inhibits COX-2 [12,13], inflammatory allergic reactions [14], prostaglandins, leukotrienes [15] and TNF-alpha production [16].These actions are expected to improve EAE induced animals, mainly because Sp/C-Pc have been shown to restore the organic and functional neuronal damage linked to senility [17] and neurodegenerative disorders [18][19][20]. However, here we demonstrate an additional and probably more fundamental property of C-Pc, its ability to trigger Treg subset induction.…”

Synthesis and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Novel Furochromenes

“…50 The initiation of inflammatory responses by metabolites of AA and suppression of acute inflammatory responses by inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (COX) and lypoxygenase (LOX) establish an important role for metabolites of AA in acute inflammation induced by AA and PMA. 51 Compounds 3r, 3p and 4p showed statistically significant suppression of ear eodema in comparison to positive control group, with comparable or even better activity to 5-LO and LTB 4 inhibitor zileuton.…”