AphaMax®, an Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Aqueous Extract, Exerts Intestinal Protective Effects in Experimental Colitis in Rats.

Maria Grazia Zizzo,Gaetano Caldara,Annalisa Bellanca,Domenico Nuzzo,Marta Di Carlo,Rosa Serio,Stefano Scoglio

doi:10.3390/nu12123635

Abstract

Background: Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) is a unicellular cyanobacterium considered to be a “superfood” for its complete nutritional profile and beneficial properties. We investigated possible beneficial effects of an AFA extract, commercialized as AphaMax®, containing concentrated amount of phycocyanins and phytochrome, in 2,4 dinitrobenzensulfonic acid(DNBS)-induced colitis in rats. Methods: Effects of preventive oral treatment of AphaMax® (20, 50 or 100 mg/kg/day) in colitic rats were assessed and then macroscopic and microscopic analyses were performed to evaluate the inflammation degree. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and NF-κB, pro-inflammatory citockines, cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible NOS (iNOS) levels of expression were determined, as Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and nitrite levels. Results: AphaMax® treatment attenuated the severity of colitis ameliorating clinical signs. AphaMax® reduced the histological colonic damage and decreased MPO activity, NF-κB activation, as well as iNOS and COX-2 expression. AphaMax® treatment improved the altered immune response associated with colonic inflammation reducing IL-1β, IL-6 expression. Lastly, AphaMax® reduced oxidative stress, decreasing ROS and nitrite levels. Conclusions: Preventive treatment with AphaMax® attenuates the severity of the inflammation in DNBS colitis rats involving decrease of the NF-kB activation, reduction of iNOS and COX-2 expression, and inhibition of oxidative stress. Due its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant proprieties AphaMax® could be a good candidate as a complementary drug in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment.

Highlights

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), are chronic and non-resolving intestinal inflammatory diseases, which include two clinical entities: Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).Their etiology is far from being fully understood, it is widely recognized that genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors are functionally integrated in the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis [1].A pivotal role seems to play a worsening and inappropriate mucosal immune response
We focused our attention on the AphaMax® effects on the local production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and oxidant insult in colonic tissue; since a plasmatic increase of advanced oxidation protein products formed during oxidative stress in IBD patients was reported [55], further studies investigating possible AphaMax® systemic effects are warranted
Taken together, data presented in this study demonstrate that AphaMax® powder has pharmacologically promising positive activity on dinitrobenzensulfonic acid (DNBS)-mediated experimental colitis

Summary

Introduction

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), are chronic and non-resolving intestinal inflammatory diseases, which include two clinical entities: Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).Their etiology is far from being fully understood, it is widely recognized that genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors are functionally integrated in the IBD pathogenesis [1].A pivotal role seems to play a worsening and inappropriate mucosal immune response. NF-κB activation, production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-1β [2,3,4], myeloperoxidase (MPO), expression of cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) collectively enhance inflammatory response in the colon and lead to a concomitant reduction in antioxidant levels. These molecular events could culminate in a serious damage of epithelial cell and disruption of the mucosal barrier [5,6]. AphaMax® reduced the histological colonic damage and decreased MPO activity, NF-κB activation, as well as iNOS and COX-2 expression

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