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.
Highlights
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory progressive, disabling autoimmune disease [1] characterized by systemic inflammation, persistent synovitis, and production of autoantibodies [2,3]
We found that the development of arthritis was concealed; it successfully inhibited the development of macroscopic as well as microscopic and histopathological lesions in adjuvantinduced arthritis (AIA) rats when compared to control
Spirulina decreased serum levels of COX-2, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and increased serum levels of GSH compared to the RA non-treated group
Summary
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 competent of acting as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and recently antiangiogenic agent. The antioxidant and the immunomodulatory effect of Spirulina platensis as well as its anti-angiogenic effect against complete Freund's adjuvantinduced arthritis (AIA) in rat model were tested
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