Comparative Protective Effects of Spirulina and Spirulina Supplemented with Thiamineagainst Sub-acute Carbon Tetrachloride Toxicity in Rats

Abstract

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is used extensively as an industrial solvent and considered the best-characterized experimental animal model of xenobiotic-induced hepatic toxicity via reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. This study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of Spirulina platensis (SP) versus Spirulina platensis supplemented with thiamine (SPt) against subacute CCl4 toxicity in rats. Rats were divided into six equal groups; Control vehicle (0.5 ml/rat 1:1 olive oil in water), SP (800 mg/kg b.wt.), SPt (800 mg/kg b.wt.), CCl4 (1ml/kg b.wt.), SP + CCl4 and SPt + CCl4. All treatments were orally and daily for a month except CCl4 was given three times weekly. CCl4 caused significant reduction in body weight gain, haemoglobin content and haematocrit percentage accompanied by leukocytosis, granulocytosis, monocytosis and lymphocytopenia. Moreover, there were significant increase in the levels of serum ALT, AST; total, direct and indirect bilirubin; urea and creatinine of CCL4- intoxicated rats. CCL4- induced significant increase of malondialdehyde levels with significant reduction of catalase activity in liver and kidney. In addition, hepatic and renal various histopathological alterations were recorded. SP and SPt ameliorated almost these changes while they couldn’t reverse the reduction of body weight gains and red blood indices. The more potent effects on measured parameters were elucidated by SPt. In conclusion SP and SPt could be used as natural antioxidant supplements to counteract the CCl4 adverse effects.