Spirulina protects against cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental and industrial cumulative pollutant that most affects many organs specially the liver. The protective effect of Spirulina, filamentous blue green algae, on Cd -induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity was evaluated in male rats. Oral administration of water extract of Spirulina for seven days followed by an acute toxic dose of Cd (3.5 mg kg b.wt. 1 ), reduced the hepatotoxicity and attenuated the Cd-induced oxidative stress. Spirulina treatment showed marked reduction in serum aminotrasferase activities and elevation in lipid peroxidation and recovery of the endogenous levels of antioxidants following Cd-intoxication. The Cd-induced hepatic histopathological changes were also minimized with the tested extract. These results suggest that Spirulina algae might play a role in reducing the toxic effect of Cd and its antioxidant properties seems to mediate such a protective effect.

Ethanolic leaf extract of Irvingia gabonensis (o’Rorke) Baill protects against nephrotoxocity and hepatotoxicity in cadmium-induced wistar albino rats

“…Cadmium has a high tendency to settle in the proximal tubule of the nephron, leading to nephrotoxicity and progressive renal failure (Gonick, 2008) and this nephrotoxicity caused by cadmium is markedly high in occurrence among individuals exposed to the heavy metal industrially and/or through food as well as environmental pollution (Gonick, 2008). Several studies have reported hepatotoxicity associated with cadmium intoxication in (Amin et al 2006, Alhazzi, 2008, Tarasub et al 2008 Rajasekaran and Periasamy, 2012). Other biochemical effects of cadmium include displacement of redox-active metals, depletion of redox scavengers, inhibition of anti-oxidant enzymes, and inhibition of the electron transport chain resulting in mitochondrial damage (Thevenod 2009, Cuypers et al 2010).…”

Review of polyphenol‐rich products as potential protective and therapeutic factors against cadmium hepatotoxicity

“…It represents a broad spectrum of antioxidative, anticancer, anti‐inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral abilities (Amin et al, ; Finamore et al, ; Gaurav, Preet, & Dua, ). Based on experimental studies it has been postulated that spirulina, by acting as a powerful FR scavenger and chelating agent, may protect the liver from various hepatotoxic agents, including Cd (Amin et al, ; Gaurav et al, ). Available data from the literature show that spirulina seems to be effective in the prophylaxis of Cd‐induced liver injury (Amin et al, ; Gaurav et al, ).…”

“…Based on experimental studies it has been postulated that spirulina, by acting as a powerful FR scavenger and chelating agent, may protect the liver from various hepatotoxic agents, including Cd (Amin et al, ; Gaurav et al, ). Available data from the literature show that spirulina seems to be effective in the prophylaxis of Cd‐induced liver injury (Amin et al, ; Gaurav et al, ). Moreover, this algae has been reported to be effective in protection from genotoxic and spermatotoxic action of this heavy metal (Aly, Kotb, & Hammad, ; Farag, Abd EL‐Aziz, Ali, & Ahmed, ).…”

“…The algae completely prevented an increase in the hepatic concentration of MDA and a decrease in GSH level, as well as growth in the activity of CAT and a decrease in the activity of SOD in the liver. Histopathological examination revealed that spirulina protected the morphological appearance of the liver from lesions induced by this heavy metal (Table ) (Amin et al, ). The investigation by Gaurav et al () has demonstrated that 1 week pretreatment with a spirulina extract (1000 mg/5 mL/kg) and henceforth 15 days co‐administration of spirulina and Cd (as CdCl 2 2 mg/kg bw, s.c.) offered protection from this metal‐induced elevation in the activities of ALT and AST in the serum, as well as a decrease in the activities of SOD and GPx in the liver.…”

“…Available data from the literature show that spirulina seems to be effective in the prophylaxis of Cd-induced liver injury (Amin et al, 2006;Gaurav et al, 2010). Moreover, this algae has been reported to be effective in protection from genotoxic and spermatotoxic action of this heavy metal (Aly, Kotb, & Hammad, 2018;Farag, Abd EL-Aziz, Ali, & Ahmed, 2016).…”