Hepatoprotective effect of germanium-containingSpirulinain rats withd-galactosamine- and lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatitis

Abstract

In the present study, the protective effects of dietary Spirulina (SP) and germanium-containing Spirulina (GeSP) were compared in rats with liver injury induced by an intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide (GalN/LPS). Wistar rats were fed one of the following diets: the basal diet (GalN/LPS-CON group; n 6), the basal diet supplemented with 5 % SP or GeSP (GalN/LPS-SP and GalN/LPS-GeSP group, respectively; n 7 each). After administering these diets for 7 d, each rat was intraperitoneally injected with GalN/LPS. Increases in plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were suppressed in the GalN/LPS-GeSP group (GalN/LPS-CON v. GalN/LPS-GeSP: ALT 1052 (SEM 187) v. 509 (SEM 88) IU/l and AST 2183 (SEM 368) v. 1170 (SEM 196) IU/l) following the injection of GalN/LPS. Plasma levels of interferon-g (IFN-g) and TNF-a in GeSP-fed rats were significantly lower when compared with those in the GalN/LPS-CON group (GalN/LPS-CON v. GalN/LPS-GeSP: IFN-g 142·8 (SEM 17·5) v. 66·8 (SEM 9·7) pg/ml and TNF-a 72·3 (SEM 15·4) v. 31·2 (SEM 6·8) pg/ml). However, the decrease in these levels observed in the GalN/LPS-SP group was not as prominent as those observed in the GalN/LPS-GeSP group. Furthermore, the increase in liver catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, as well as the level of oxidised glutathione (GSSG), was more suppressed in GeSP-fed rats (GalN/ LPS-CON v. GalN/LPS-GeSP: CAT 457 (SEM 47) v. 262 (SEM 54) U/mg liver protein; GPx 1·30 (SEM 0·11) v. 0·53 (SEM 0·09) U/mg liver protein; GSSG 2·18 (SEM 0·33) v. 1·31 (SEM 0·24) mmol/kg liver) after the injection of GalN/LPS. These changes were more pronounced in the GalN/ LPS-GeSP group than in the GalN/LPS-SP group. These results suggest that GeSP could afford a significant protective effect in the alleviation of GalN/LPS-induced hepatic damage. In addition, the results indicate that GeSP is more effective than SP.Key words: Germanium-containing Spirulina: D-Galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide: Liver injury: Antioxidant enzymes Hepatic failure induced by the injection of D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide (GalN/LPS) has been considered as an inflammatory response, involving the accumulation of mononuclear cells in the liver and an increase in plasma alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase activities. This phenomenon is observed in patients with acute hepatic failure (1) . GalN/LPS-induced liver injury is also known to cause cytokine release (TNF-a is the main mediator) that contributes to increased oxidative stress and the formation of reactive oxygen species, followed by hepatocyte death (2,3) .The blue-green alga Spirulina (Spirulina platensis, SP) is used as a health food source because it contains large amounts of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Its consumption by humans and rodents is believed to be efficacious in improving diabetes (4) , osteopenia (5) and immunity (6) . Furthermore, it has been reported that SP and its component phycocyanin mitigate D-galac...

Germanium compounds and their role in animal body

“…Використання органічного Ge у поєднанні з рафінозою стимулювало мікробіологічні процеси у травному каналі щурів [58]. Поєднання Ge-вмісної спіруліни з d-галактозаміном і ліпополісахаридами зумовлювало гепатопротекторну дію у щурів [99].…”

Phycobiliproteins and phycocyanin of Arthrospira maxima (Spirulina) reduce apoptosis promoters and glomerular dysfunction in mercury-related acute kidney injury

“…Spirulina has been used as an antioxidant protector in different toxicological models that involved the kidney. [8][9][10][11][12] The nephroprotective activity of Spirulina and its components is associated with the antioxidant capacity of them. Spirulina contains vitamins (A, B, C, and E), essential amino acids, and fatty acids; as well as another pigment as carotenoids, chlorophylls, and phycobiliproteins as phycocyanin that acts as nucleophilic compounds and they can neutralize free radical and reactive species.…”

Biochanin A protects lipopolysaccharide/D-galactosamine-induced acute liver injury in mice by activating the Nrf2 pathway and inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation

“…The model was widely used to explore the pathogenesis of fulminant hepatitis and develop novel liver-protective reagents [7]. Previous studies showed that LPS/GalN induced inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 production in mice model of hepatic failure [8,9]. These inflammatory cytokines contributed to liver cells necrosis and hepatic failure.…”