Antioxidant and Angiostatic Effect of Spirulina platensis Suspension in Complete Freund’s Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis in Rats

Abstract

BackgroundCurrently, natural products have built a well-recognized role in the management of many degenerative diseases, mainly rheumatoid arthritis. Recent studies suggest that Spirulina, a unicellular blue-green alga, may have a variety of health benefits and curative properties and is also competent of acting as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and recently anti-angiogenic agent. In the present study, the antioxidant and the immunomodulatory effect of Spirulina platensis as well as its anti-angiogenic effect against complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in rat model were tested.ResultsWe found that the development of arthritis was concealed; moreover it successfully inhibited the development of macroscopic as well as microscopic and histopathological lesions in AIA rats when compared to control. Spirulina treated group showed a higher survival rate and moreover, it reduced the clinical score of RA in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, Spirulina decreased serum levels of COX-2, TNF-α, IL-6, TBARS, VEGF and increased serum levels of GSH compared to the RA non-treated group.ConclusionsThe present study concluded that Spirulina is able to restrain the changes produced through adjuvant-induced arthritis. The suppressing effect of Spirulina could be attributed, at least in part, to anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-angiogenic properties.

Freund´s complete adjuvant effect on BALB/c mice: an insight into inflammation and oxidative stress after immunity challenge

“…No signifi cance in assayed IL-2, IL-4, FRAP and caspase-3 activity determine that the markers are not sensitive to FCA or their role in pathologies related to FCA has lower relevance comparedto the malondialdehyde, GSH and TNF α. The fi ndings presented here support the conclusions by other researchers where antioxidants are discussed as suitable means for suppression of arthritis experimentally induced by FCA (19)(20)(21).…”

Consumption of an aqueous cyanophyta extract derived from Arthrospira platensis is associated with reduction of chronic pain: results from two human clinical pilot studies

“…8,9,[23][24][25][27][28][29] However, to the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to establish an association with consumption of an aqueous Arthrospira extract enriched in phycocyanin and other aqueous compounds to pain relief in a human population. The overall speed and magnitude of resolution of some aspects of chronic pain suggests an underlying effect on oxidative stress and inflammation.…”

“…The documented effects of ACE on other aspects of inflammation, including inhibition of free radical formation by inflammatory cells, 23 suggest a multifaceted mechanism underlying the clinical observations. Future work is warranted, including a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study on chronic joint-related pain, as well as evaluation of effects on inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers.…”

“…Several parallel mechanisms of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of ACE have shown that the bioactivities of the extract are more complex than what can be accounted for by the content of phycocyanin alone. The findings that ACE contains compounds capable of inhibiting the lipoxygenase inflammatory enzyme, 23 in conjunction with its content of the COX-2 inhibitor phycocyanin, suggest that the rapid effects seen reflect, at least in part, a synergistic effect of inhibition of several inflammatory enzymes.…”

“…Specifically, Arthrospira supplementation has been linked to hypocholesterolemic effects, 16 hepatoprotective properties via hypolipidemic effects, 17 blood pressure reductions in hypertensive patients, 18,19 improved anemia and immunosenescence in senior citizens, 20 and beneficial effects on blood lipid profiles in patients with metabolic dysfunction. 21,22 The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of A. platensis 23 and A. maxima 24 have been shown to reduce tissue damage in rheumatoid arthritis in a rodent model. Therefore, due to the multiple documented health-supportive properties of blue-green algae, they are frequently used as an ingredient in dietary supplements.…”