Protective properties of filamentous blue–green alga Spirulina against the oxidative stress induced by cadmium in freshwater mussel Unio ravoisieri

Abstract

ABSTRACTCadmium (Cd) is a toxic-heavy metal that induces a wide range of behavioural, biochemical and physiological effects in aquatic organisms. Oxidative damage has been proposed as a possible mechanism involved in cadmium toxicity. The current study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant activity of Spirulina as feed additive (1 mg/L) against the toxicity of cadmium (Cd) 0.5 mg/L in freshwater mussel Unio ravoisieri. At the end of the exposed period of 4 days, digestive gland antioxidant status Superoxide dismutase, Catalase, Glutathione-S-transferase and damage markers such as Malondialdehyde and Protein carbonyl were determined. Associations between biomarkers were assessed by a multivariate analysis technique, principal component analysis (PCA). The results of this study revealed that digestive gland antioxidant status showed a significant decrease when mussels were exposed to Cd. Superoxide dismutase, Catalase and Glutathione-S-transferase activities in the Cd + SP group were significantly higher than the Cd group (p < 0.05). Tissue levels of malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl in the Cd + SP group were significantly lower than the Cd group (P < 0.05). Our results show that the pretreatment with Spirulina protects the mussel from Cadmium-induced tissue damage by its antioxidant properties.