Phycobiliprotein C-Phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis Is Powerfully Responsible for Reducing Oxidative Stress and NADPH Oxidase Expression Induced by an Atherogenic Diet in Hamsters
Abstract
The effects of spirulina and its chromophore phycocyanin, both without bound Se or selenium-enriched, were studied on plasma cholesterol, early atherosclerosis, cardiac production of superoxide anions, and NAD(P)H oxidase expression in hamsters. Forty hamsters were divided into 5 groups of 8 and fed an atherogenic diet for 12 weeks. They received by gavage either 7.14 mL/(kg day) phycocyanin (PC), Se-rich phycocyanin (SePC), spirulina (SP) or Se-rich spirulina (SeSP) in water, or water as control. SeSP and SePC supplied 0.4 microg of Se per 100 g body weight. Plasma cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol concentrations were lower in group consuming SePC. HDL-cholesterol was never affected. SePC significantly increased plasma antioxidant capacity by 42% compared with controls. A sparing effect in liver glutathione peroxidase (87% on average) and superoxide dismutase (56% on average) activity was observed for all the groups compared to controls. Aortic fatty streak area was significantly reduced in the experimental groups, especially by PC (82%) and SePC (85%). Cardiac production of superoxide anion significantly decreased by approximately 46-76% in the four experimental groups and especially in SePC group (76%). The expression of p22phox subunit of NAD(P)H oxidase decreased by 34% after consumption of SePC. The results indicate that chronic consumption of Se-rich spirulina phycocyanin powerfully prevents the development of atherosclerosis. The underlying mechanism is related mainly to inhibiting pro-oxidant factors and at a lesser extent improving the serum lipid profile.
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Hamsters receiving phycocyanin were observed to reduce plasma total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, especially when administered together with selenium.
“Hamsters, which receive phycocyanin, were observed to reduce plasma total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, especially when administered together with selenium [34].”
From Application of Arthrospira platensis for Medicinal Purposes and the Food Industry: A Review of the Literature (2023) · cites this paper as [34]
Spirulina contains phenolic phytochemicals and C-phycocyanin with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
“Spirulina contains many functional bioactive ingredients with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, including phenolic phytochemicals [25, 26] and the phycobiliprotein C-phycocyanin [27].”
From Antioxidant, Immunomodulating, and Microbial‐Modulating Activities of the Sustainable and Ecofriendly <i>Spirulina</i> (2017) · cites this paper as [27]
PCB would inhibit NADPH oxidase because its chemical structure is similar to that of bilirubin, a highly specific inhibitor of NADPH oxidase.
“It was postulated that PCB would inhibit NADPH oxidase since the chemical structure of PCB is similar to that of bilirubin, which is a highly specific inhibitor of NADPH oxidase [30,31].”
From Beneficial Effects of Spirulina Consumption on Brain Health (2022) · cites this paper as [31]
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- Authors
- Riss, J., Décordé, K., Sutra, T., Delage, M., Baccou, J.-C., Jouy, N., Brune, J.-P., Oréal, H., Cristol, J.-P., & Rouanet, J.-M.
- Affiliations
- Université de Montpellier (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Rouanet, Jean-Max
- ORCID
- Cristol, Jean-Paul
- Venue
- Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2007-08-16
- Volume
- 55
- Issue
- 19
- Pages
- 7962-7967
- ISSN
- 0021-8561 (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5118
- OpenAlex
- W2014633444
- Cited by
- 208
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 4.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Seaweed-derived Bioactive Compounds
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Selenium in Biological Systems
- Keywords
- phycocyanin, Spirulina, selenium, atherosclerosis, oxidative stress, NADPH oxidase, p22phox, superoxide, serum cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, fatty streaks, atherogenic diet, hamster
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Diet, Atherogenic, Enzyme Inhibitors, Cricetinae, Liver, Male, Mesocricetus, Phycocyanin, Oxidative Stress, NADPH Oxidases, Atherosclerosis, Spirulina
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