Nutritional Value of the Alga Spirulina

Dillon, J. C.; Phuc, Anh Phan; Dubacq, Jean‐Paul

doi:10.1159/000424464

Cited by 175 publications

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“…Spirulina (Arthrospira), a cyanobacterium generally described as a blue-green algae of the Oscillatoraceae family, grows in highly alkaline waters of tropical and subtropical areas, and is further classified into the wellknown species Spirulina platensis, Spirulina fusiformis, and Spirulina maxima (Dillon et al, 1995). The latter has been consumed in Mexico since Aztec civilization age, but nowadays its consumption is globally distributed (Shukla et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preclinical antitoxic properties ofSpirulina(Arthrospira)

Martínez-Galero

Pérez-Pasten

Pérez-Juárez

et al. 2015

Pharmaceutical Biology

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Context: Spirulina (Arthrospira) exerts a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities which are mainly attributed to its antioxidant effect. However, Spirulina has also been reported (both in preclinical and in clinical scenarios) to exhibit other bioactive effects, including an antitoxic potential.Objective: We performed a systematic review of the literature, conducted in TOXNET, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Science Direct-Scopus; all available years were included. Searching criteria included the effects of Spirulina on experimental poisonings from arsenic, cadmium, carbon tetrachloride, deltamethrin, fluoride, hexachlorocyclohexane, iron, lead, lindane, and mercury. Results: In all cases, it was established that the blue-green alga, and its isolated compounds, effectively counteracted these pollutants toxic effects on the exposed organisms. Some molecular mechanisms are proposed, although they have not been fully elucidated yet. Conclusion: Spirulina could be a useful coadjuvant agent within clinical practice for treatment of these or other pollutants poisonings.ARTICLE HISTORY

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preclinical antitoxic properties ofSpirulina(Arthrospira)

Martínez-Galero

Pérez-Pasten

Pérez-Juárez

et al. 2015

Pharmaceutical Biology

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“…It is an ideal anti-aging food; concentrated with nutrient value, easily digestible and loaded with antioxidant. It is rich with beta carotene food, a full spectrum of ten mixed carotinoids (Dillon et al, 1995). It has also many other beneficial effects to the body for e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation on the Counteracting Effect of Spirulina Against Potentated Sulfonamides (Cotrim Ds®) Side Effects in Rat

Islam

Akter

Bala

et al. 2013

Bangl. J. Vet. Med.

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An experiment was conducted to investigate the counteracting effects of spirulina in Long Evans rats exposed to oral potentiated sulfonamide administration. 20 rats were randomly assigned into four equal groups (A, B, C and D) and were fed with standard broiler pellet (25g/rat/day) throughout the experimental period of 60 days. Rats of Group A were fed only with pellet without any experimental diet and were defined as control. Rats of Group B were treated with potentiated sulfonamide @ 96 mg/rat/day orally whereas Group C was treated with potentiated sulfonamide @ 96 mg/rat/day plus spirulina (Spirulina maxima) @ 50 mg/rat/day orally (low dose spirulina). In Group D, potentiated sulfonamide and spirulina (Spirulina maxima) were given through feed @ 96 mg/rat/day and @ 100 mg/rat/day (high dose spirulina) respectively. Hematological parameters (TEC, Hb and absolute count of lymphocyte, neutrophil and eosinophil) and hispathological profile of liver and kidney were recorded. The investigation revealed that the oral administration of sulfonamide significantly (p<0.01) decreased the TEC (5.93±0.24) value, number of lymphocyte (581.76±3.70) and neutrophil (581.76±3.70) compared to other treated groups and control group. On the other hand significant (p<0.01) increase (422.86±2.34) in eosinophil population has been found in rats fed on sulfonamide irrespective of spirulina supplementation on the final day of experiment compared to other treated group and control group. From this experiment it is evidenced that spirulina has a potential counteracting effect against sulfonamide. Histopathology of kidney and liver was done at the end of experiment (60 days) and no significant change was found except in the kidney of Group B and C.

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“…Genus Spirulina has gained an importance and international demand for its high phytonutrients value and pigments which have applications in healthy foods, animal feed, therapeutics and diagnostics (Becker, 1994;Vonshak and Tomaselli, 2000). Spirulina has been used as food and nutritional supplements since long time (Dillon et al, 1995). It is generally a rich source of vitamins, essential amino acids, minerals, essential fatty acids such as γ-linolenic acid and sulfolipid (Mendes et al, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Salt stress enhancement of antioxidant and antiviral efficiency of Spirulina platensis

Shalaby¹,

Shanab²,

Singh³

2010

J. Med. Plants Res.

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Cultivation of Spirulina platensis under salt stress conditions (0.02 M as control), 0.04 and 0.08 M NaCl led to a remarkable alteration of algal metabolism as well as an enhancement or induction of biologically active compounds. Concerning algal growth, salt stress caused a decrease in dry weight, chlorophyll a content as well as certain xanthophylls (neoxanthin and violaxanthin) while β-carotene production was stimulated especially at higher salt concentrations. Biochemical analysis of salt stressed algal revealed that lipid content was slightly increased together with certain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids especially the polyunsaturated ones (γ-inolenic acid, omega 3 fatty acid). Electrophoretic analysis of soluble protein pointed out that certain high molecular weight protein bands were not detected comparing with the protein marker. Five new protein bands of molecular weights 190, 158, 113, 77 and 28 KDa were recorded, in addition to an increase in the intensity of 6 already existing bands. Phosphate buffer and water extracts of the algal exhibited antiviral activities against both Hepatitis-A-virus-type-MBB (HAV-MBB strain, RNA virus) and Herpes simplex-virus-type-1 (HSV-1, DNA virus). Water extracts were found to be more effective than phosphate buffer extracts in inducing antiviral activities (98%) especially against HSV-1 virus. The same water extract of the salt stressed algal demonstrated higher anticoagulating activity compared with those of heparin and the positive control measured by clotting time assay. Antioxidant activity of the algal successive extracts against 2, 2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis (ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical methods revealed moderate antioxidant activity of the non-polar algal extracts (petroleum ether) which were doubled with increasing extract concentration. The lowest activity was recorded by the partially polar (ethyl acetate) algal extract of both concentrations at all salinity levels. While the polar extracts (ethanol and water) showed higher antioxidant activities which were doubled with increasing extract concentration. Ethanolic algal extract (100 µg/ ml at 0.08 M NaCl) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity compared with those of the synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxy anisol as standard (85.0, 89.9 and 86.0, 91.8% respectively).Key words: Spirulina platensis, antioxidant-antivirus, biochemical studies, salt stress. INTRODUCTIONMany cyanobacteria and micro algae were considered as a natural source of various biologically and pharmacologically active compounds with structurally complex molecules which are difficult or impossible to be *Corresponding author. E-mail: dremad2009@yahoo.com.produced by chemical synthesis (Smith and Doan, 1999). Genus Spirulina has gained an importance and international demand for its high phytonutrients value and pigments which have applications in healthy foods, animal feed, therapeutics and diagnostics (Becker, 1994;Vonshak and Tomaselli, 2000). Spirulina has been used as food and nutritional ...

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Nutritional Value of the Alga Spirulina

Cited by 175 publications

References 0 publications

Preclinical antitoxic properties ofSpirulina(Arthrospira)

Preclinical antitoxic properties ofSpirulina(Arthrospira)

Investigation on the Counteracting Effect of Spirulina Against Potentated Sulfonamides (Cotrim Ds®) Side Effects in Rat

Salt stress enhancement of antioxidant and antiviral efficiency of Spirulina platensis

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Nutritional Value of the Alga Spirulina

Cited by 175 publications

References 0 publications

Preclinical antitoxic properties ofSpirulina(Arthrospira)

Preclinical antitoxic properties ofSpirulina(Arthrospira)

Investigation on the Counteracting Effect of Spirulina Against Potentated Sulfonamides (Cotrim Ds®) Side Effects in Rat

Salt stress enhancement of antioxidant and antiviral efficiency of Spirulina platensis

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Investigation on the Counteracting Effect of Spirulina Against Potentated Sulfonamides (Cotrim Ds®) Side Effects in Rat