Neuroprotective effect ofArthrospira(Spirulina)platensisagainst kainic acid-neuronal death

Abstract

Context Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis (SP) is a cyanobacterium which has attracted attention because of its nutritional value and pharmacological properties. It was previously reported that SP reduces oxidative stress in the hippocampus and protects against damaging neurobehavioural effects of systemic kainic acid (KA). It is widely known that the systemic administration of KA induces neuronal damage, specifically in the CA3 hippocampal region. Objective The present study determines if the SP sub-chronic treatment has neuroprotective properties against KA. Materials and methods Male SW mice were treated with SP during 24 d, at doses of 0, 200, and 800 mg/kg, once daily, and with KA (35 mg/kg, ip) as a single dose on day 14. After the treatment, a histological analysis was performed and the number of atrophic neuronal cells in CA3 hippocampal region was quantified. Results Pretreatment with SP does not protect against seizures induced by KA. However, mortality in the SP 200 and the SP 800 groups was of 20%, while for the KA group, it was of 60%. A single KA ip administration produced a considerable neuronal damage, whereas both doses of SP subchronic treatment reduced the number of atrophic neurons in CA3 hippocampal region with respect to the KA group. Discussion The SP neurobehaviour improvement after KA systemic administration correlates with the capacity of SP to reduce KA-neuronal death in CA3 hippocampal cells. This neuroprotection may be related to the antioxidant properties of SP. Conclusion SP reduces KA-neuronal death in CA3 hippocampal cells. ARTICLE HISTORY

<p>Therapeutic Effects of <em>Spirulina platensis</em> Against Adolescent Stress-Induced Oxidative Stress, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Alterations and Morphological Remodeling in the Amygdala of Adult Female Rats</p>

“…36 Recent studies have shown Spirulina platensis reduces oxidative stress in the hippocampus and protects CA3 neurons against damaging of systemic kainic acid. 34 Spirulina platensis has different roles, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective properties. 20,31,32,35 Because of its neuroprotective and antioxidant properties, the findings of the present study suggest that the application of Spirulina platensis as a natural food supplement is useful to prevention the cognitive-behavioral impairment induced by stress.…”

“…32,33 It has been reported that Spirulina reduces oxidative stress in the hippocampus and protects against damaging neurobehavioral effects of systemic kainic acid. 34 SP enhanced the beneficial effect of exercise on oxidative stress and lipid profiles in rats. 35 The antioxidant property of Spirulina is ascribed to phycocyanin component, which is a potent antioxidant.…”

“…Rats randomly were distributed into 4 following groups (10 animals in each group). Control group: rats received only oral physiological saline using gavage tube; SP group: rats received 200 mg/kg SP per day for 15 days using gavage tube (PNDs 41-55); Stress group: rats exposed to 10 days restraint stress (PNDs [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40] and Stress + SP group: rats exposed to stress and then received SP for 15 days (PNDs 41-55). Biochemical assessments began at the PND 61 after the termination of all intervention procedure.…”

Cyanotherapeutics: an emerging field for future drug discovery

“…Perez-Juarez, Chamorro, Alva-Sanchez, Paniagua-Castro, and Pacheco-Rosado (2016) have shown that administration of kainic acid induces neurodegeneration by causing neuronal damage in the CA3 hippocampal region which is reduced by supplementation of Spirulina. It was also demonstrated that supplementation of Spirulina reduces oxidative stress in the hippocampal region resulting in a neuroprotective effect (Hwang et al, 2011;Perez-Juarez et al, 2016).…”

Protective Effects of Dietary Spirulina platensis against Cadmium-Induced Oxidative Stress in Gills of Rainbow Trout

“…Besides, antioxidant compounds, this microalga contain significant amounts of protein (more than 70%), long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), vitamins and especially vitamin B12, as well as minerals like zinc, manganese, magnesium, selenium and iron [13]. Oral administration of S. platensis is reported to increase the cellular antioxidant capacity and glutathione levels in cells against iron-induced oxidative stress [14] and prevent cell death induced by increased free radicals [15][16][17].…”