Protective Role of Spirulina and Vitamin E against Arsenic Toxicity in Rats

Abstract

Arsenic is one of the most sensitive environmental issues in Bangladesh; even it is a major health concern in Asia. Spirulina and vitamin E have been considered as a potential therapeutic supplement due to its ability to minimize several element induced toxicities in various species including man. The study was performed to evaluate the role of spirulina (Spirulina platensis) and vitamin E in prevention of arsenic toxicity in different groups (T 0-4 , n = 60) of Long-Evans rats. T 0 was control group, T 1 was treated with sodium arsenite, T 2 was treated with sodium arsenite plus spirulina, T 3 was treated with sodium arsenite plus vitamin E and T 4 was treated with sodium arsenite plus vitamin E plus spirulina daily for 63 days. Sodium arsenite was at 4 mg kgG 1 b.wt., spirulina was at 1 g kgG 1 feed and vitamin E was at 200 mg kgG 1 feed. Samples were collected on day 21, 42 and 63. Arsenic was detected from tissue samples by Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (HGAAS). Sodium arsenite feeding in rats caused chronic arsenic toxicity and the arsenic content in tissues (blood, lung, liver and kidney) of the exposed rats were significantly higher than control rats. Spirulina and vitamin E treatments significantly lowered the arsenic content in tissues. Arsenic caused hepatic and renal dysfunction but spirulina and vitamin E improved the hepatic and renal functions. Spirulina feeding was more effective than vitamin E and their combined treatment was more effective compare to their single treatment. The study demonstrates the role of spirulina and vitamin E in the reduction of toxicity of arsenic.

Toxicity in Goats Exposed to Arsenic in the Region Lagunera, Northern Mexico

“…It is important to mention that Mexico has the largest goat population in Latin America [25]. Group 1 urine results obtained in the present study indicate the importance of the urinary system in the removal of arsenic from the body, as indicated by previous studies [12,26,27].…”

Amelioration of Sodium Arsenate-Induced Stimulation of Enzyme Activities in the Plasma and Liver, and Liver Histopathology in Rat Models by Spirulina (Arthrospora platensis)

“…Moreover, the simultaneous administration of As and Sp to rats at doses of 300 and 600 mg/kg body weight resulted in a partial reduction, as evidenced by the restoration of enzyme activities in the serum and liver to their normal levels. Nonetheless, Sayed et al (2015) also observed a comparable decrease in enzyme levels when Sp was present. They found that the coadministration of Sp significantly reversed the levels of AST and ALT, bringing them close to the values observed in the control group.…”

Comparative pharmacokinetics and urinary excretion of arsenic and mercury after oral administration of realgar, cinnabar and AnGongNiuHuang Pill to rats

“…As reported previously, a patient died of arsenic poisoning with a blood arsenic concentration of 21.1 μg/ml, and the fatal blood arsenic concentration was 0.16–41 μg/ml ( Lech and Trela 2005 ; Lu et al, 2019 ). The blood arsenic concentration in poisoned rats was 144.00–166.11 μg/ml ( Sayed et al, 2015 ). No significant toxicity occurred in rats after 30 days treatment of realgar, and the blood arsenic concentration was 68.62 μg/ml ( Yi et al, 2019 ; Yi et al, 2020 ).…”