Spirulina platensis alleviates the liver, brain and heart oxidative stress in type 1 diabetic rats

Abstract

Spirulina platensis (SPI) is a microalga with a high content of functional compounds, such as phenolics, phycocyanins and polysaccharides that has been shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, neuro-protective and immunomodulatory effects. The objectives of the present work were to study the possible effects of SPI treatment on the glycemic-lipid profile, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and cardiac performance in diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) in male Wistar rats. In diabetic animals SPI, at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day, reduced lipid peroxidation, nitrite levels and lipids in plasma and tissues. SPI exhibited an effective improvement on +dP/dT and −dP/dT in non-diabetic rats. This study showed that SPI significantly suppressed nitrite generation and lipoperoxidation in the hearts of diabetic animals, as well as an improvement in the cardiac function in control SPI-treated rats which is consistent with several studies that demonstrated the protective effect of antioxidants on oxidative stress-mediated injury caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in diabetic myocardial tissues.