Aqueous Extract Of Spirulina Platensis Research Articles

Mitigating drought stress in wheat plants (Triticum Aestivum L.) through grain priming in aqueous extract of spirulina platensis

BackgroundThe study focuses on the global challenge of drought stress, which significantly impedes wheat production, a cornerstone of global food security. Drought stress disrupts cellular and physiological processes in wheat, leading to substantial yield losses, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. The research investigates the use of Spirulina platensis aqueous extract (SPAE) as a biostimulant to enhance the drought resistance of two Egyptian wheat cultivars, Sakha 95 (drought-tolerant) and Shandawel 1 (drought-sensitive). Each cultivar’s grains were divided into four treatments: Cont, DS, SPAE-Cont, and SPAE + DS. Cont and DS grains were presoaked in distilled water for 18 h while SPAE-Cont and SPAE + DS were presoaked in 10% SPAE, and then all treatments were cultivated for 96 days in a semi-field experiment. During the heading stage (45 days: 66 days), two drought treatments, DS and SPAE + DS, were not irrigated. In contrast, the Cont and SPAE-Cont treatments were irrigated during the entire experiment period. At the end of the heading stage, agronomy, pigment fractions, gas exchange, and carbohydrate content parameters of the flag leaf were assessed. Also, at the harvest stage, yield attributes and biochemical aspects of yielded grains (total carbohydrates and proteins) were evaluated.ResultsThe study demonstrated that SPAE treatments significantly enhanced the growth vigor, photosynthetic rate, and yield components of both wheat cultivars under standard and drought conditions. Specifically, SPAE treatments increased photosynthetic rate by up to 53.4%, number of spikes by 76.5%, and economic yield by 190% for the control and 153% for the drought-stressed cultivars pre-soaked in SPAE. Leaf agronomy, pigment fractions, gas exchange parameters, and carbohydrate content were positively influenced by SPAE treatments, suggesting their effectiveness in mitigating drought adverse effects, and improving wheat crop performance.ConclusionThe application of S. platensis aqueous extract appears to ameliorate the adverse effects of drought stress on wheat, enhancing the growth vigor, metabolism, and productivity of the cultivars studied. This indicates the potential of SPAE as an eco-friendly biostimulant for improving crop resilience, nutrition, and yield under various environmental challenges, thus contributing to global food security.

Curative Effects of Spirulina (Spirulina platensis) Aqueous Extract on Reproductive Parameters and Oxidative Stress Markers in Female Guinea Pig (Cavia porcellus) Exposed to Lead

Some medicinal plants with antioxidant properties have protective effects on reproductive parameters and neutralize the harmful effects of hazardous. Spirulina possesses high concentration of nutrients responsible of their biological activities and nutritional properties. The present study aimed at assessing the protective effect of aqueous extract of Spirulina platensis (AESP) in alleviating the lead-induced impairment of reproductive function in female guinea pig. For this purpose, Sixty (60) sexually mature females were divided into six groups of ten (10) animals each. The first batch served as neutral control, receiving distilled water, the second as negative control, receiving lead acetate at a dose of 12 mg/kg body weight (bw) while the third set, the positive control, was given 12 mg of lead acetate/kg bw and 100 mg of vitamin C; the groups 4, 5 and 6 were treated with 12 mg/kg bw of lead acetate and thereafter received 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg bw of AESP respectively. Lead acetate was administered for 30 days and then after the curative substances were given for 60 days. All the administrations were done through oral route. The reproductive and biochemical parameters were studied. Results revealed that lead acetate induced significant (p<0.05) decrease in final body weight, sex organs weight, concentrations of Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and estradiol. Lead acetate also lead to an increase in malondiadehyde concentration and to a drop in superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. The post exposure treatment of female guinea pig with AESP improved the harmful effects of Lead acetate. Therefore, the AESP can be promising as a natural therapeutic agent in Lead-induced reproductive toxicity and oxidative stress in female guinea pig.

Allelopathic Potential of Subfractions from Aqueous Extract of Spirulina Platensis and Denatured C-phycocyanin

In this laboratory bioassay, crude aqueous extract of Spirulina platensis (Nordst) Geitl. was extracted with 90% aqueous ethanol and 80% aqueous ethanol to achieve three subfractions, green powder (F1), pale-green powder (F2) and deep-blue powder (F3). Each of these subfractions was evaluated for allelopathic activity on Chinese amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.) and barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv.). The plant seeds were germinated in vials with three subfractions (250-2000 mg/l concentrations) and distilled water was used as a negative control. The results indicated that subfraction F3 had the highest inhibitory effect on both of the tested plants. All subfractions had an absorbance ratio (A620/A280) lower than the original aqueous extract, suggesting that a denaturation event of the C-phycocyanin (C-PC) component had occurred during the extraction process. After heating a commercial C-PC solution at 90oC for 3 h, the absorbance ratio changed to 0.46, and likewise allelopathic assay revealed that the decolorized C-PC solution retained its allelopathic potential on the tested plants. To confirm these findings, S. platensis powder was extracted with distilled water at 90oC for 3 h and tested for its allelopathic potential using standard Petri dish assay at concentrations of 0.625-5%. The results showed that the hot aqueous extract had an absorbance ratio of 0.38, and its allelopathic activities were similar to those of the aqueous extract. Furthermore, it was found that although C-PC in aqueous extractions denatured, it still retained its allelopathic potential on the tested plants.

In vitro and in vivo hypolipidemic properties of the aqueous extract of Spirulina platensis, cultivated in colored flasks under artificial illumination.

BackgroundSpirulina is blue-green algae that grows mainly in tropical and subtropical lakes and is commonly used due to its nutritional features including high concentrations of protein, vitamins, mineral salts, carotenoids and antioxidants. This study aimed to investigate the anti-hypercholesterolemic potential of aqueous extract of Spirulina platensis cultivated in different colored flasks under artificial illumination; in vitro and in the diet induced hypercholesterolemic Swiss albino mice.MethodsSpirulina platensis was cultivated in red, blue, green and colorless Erlenmeyer flasks containing Zarrouk’s medium under aerobic conditions, with incessant illumination by artificial cool white fluorescent with light intensity of 2500 lux (35 µmol photon m−2 s−1). Chlorophyll a and total carotenoid contents were estimated using colorimetric methods, fatty acids composition was determined by GC-Mass, in vitro and in vivo anti-cholesterol assays were used in assessing the anti-hypercholesterolemia potential of obtained Spirulina cells.ResultsThe results showed that the highest cell dry weight, chlorophyl a, and carotenoid of S. platensis were observed in colorless flasks and that the lowest values were recorded with the green colored flasks. Also, the hot water extract of S. platensis obtained from colorless flasks at a concentration of 15 mg/mL after 60 min of incubation exhibited the greatest reduction of cholesterol level. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of S. platensis methanolic extract showed 15 bioactive compounds were identified and grouped according to their chemical structures. An experimental model of hypercholesterolemic mice had been examined for impact of S. platensis individually and combined with atorvastatin drug. All S. platensis groups resulted in a remarkable decrease in plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein; and increase in high density lipoprotein.ConclusionThe present study concluded that the hot aqueous extract of S. platensis developed in colorless flasks is recommended as a natural source for bioactive compounds, with anti-cholesterol and antioxidant potentialities.

Preservation of mango fruit with guar-based edible coatings enriched with Spirulina platensis and Aloe vera extract during storage at ambient temperature

In this study, the effects of guar gum (GG) edible coatings enriched with Aloe vera (AL) gel and ethanolic, and the aqueous extract of Spirulina platensis (SPE and PSW) on the physicochemical qualities of the mango (Mangifera indica L.) stored at the ambient temperature (25 ± 2 °C) for 3 weeks were investigated. It was found that the coatings reduced the respiration rate and the weight loss of the mango fruits. Fruits coating with GG + SPE significantly showed higher firmness in comparison with the control. Coating fruits with GG + AL remarkably reduced fruit weight loss. Also, GG + AL coated fruits significantly maintained the ascorbic acid content of mango. The results also indicated that the total phenol and antioxidant activity were much higher in the GG + SPE coated fruits, as compared to other ones. As the storage time was increased, the ascorbic acid content, titratable acidity (TA) and pH of the fruits were decreased, while weight loss and TSS were increased. The peel color changes during storage were much lower in the coated fruits in comparison to those in the control. Coated fruits showed a much lower a* value than the control. It could be, therefore, concluded that guar edible coatings enriched with Spirulina platensis, especially the ethanolic extract, could have considerable effects on increasing the shelf life of mango fruit.

Hypolipidemic effect and activation of Lecithin Cholesterol Acyl Transferase (LCAT) by aqueous extract of Spirulina platensis during toxicological investigation

BackgroundSpirulina platensis produced in Nomayos (Cameroon) is used as a dietary supplement. S. platensis is known as a neutraceutical with many beneficial effects on humans like lipid-lowering action. This study aims to investigate the mechanism of hypolipidemic action of aqueous extract of Spirulina platensis (S. platensis) through the toxicological studies.MethodsIn this study, we included two month old Wistar rats, weighing between 180 and 200 g. Aqueous S. platensis was extracted and prepared using standard methods. The rats received a supplementation of S. platensis at 5000 mg/Kg of body weight as single dose in acute toxicity whereas different doses (250, 500, 1000 mg / kg body weight) were administered in subacute toxicity compared to control. Acute and subacute toxicities were determined according to the guidelines 420 (14 days) and 407 (28 days) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) respectively. Biochemical parameters such as urea, creatinine, total and direct bilirubin, lipid profile and transaminases; and histopathological analysis of the liver and kidneys were used to evaluate the toxicity of S. platensis on these Wistar rats. Plasmatic hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG CoA reductase) and lecithine cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) were performed to explain the lipid-lowering action of S. platensis. Histopathological analysis of the liver and kidneys was performed.ResultsOur results show a decrease in total cholesterol for male rats (from 84 to 74 mg/dl) when the dose of S. platensis increased; this reduction of the total cholesterol level in male rats was significant at 500 mg/kg. There was also a significant inhibition of HMG CoA reductase in a dose dependent manner between 25 and 84.5 fold compared to the control in both male and female groups. At the dose of 250 mg/kg bw, the level of LCAT was higher compared with other groups and control, but the difference was not statistically significant. A slight inflammation in the liver and the mesangial hyperplasia of the renal glomeruli was revealed by the histopathological investigation in subacute toxicity.ConclusionSpirulina platensis from Cameroon appears to have little toxic effects and may demonstrate hypolipidemic activity through the activation of LCAT.

Toxicological, phytochemical, and antibacterial assessment of Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis poder in albino rats. a preliminary study

Objetivo. Describir la toxicidad aguda, efecto antibacteriano y análisis fitoquímico de los polvos de Chlorella vulgaris y Spirulina platensis. Materiales y métodos. Se realizaron las pruebas de FeCl3, Keller Killiani, de saponinas, solución alcalina y de concentración de ácido sulfúrico para el análisis fitoquímico. El efecto antibacteriano de los extractos fue evaluado mediante el método de difusión con discos en cepas de E. coli, S. aureus y B. cereus. Para evaluar la toxicidad aguda y los efectos del polvo en parámetros hematológicos y bioquímicos, se agruparin 15 ratas albinas en cinco grupos: I (polvo de extracto acuoso de Chlorella vulgaris); II (polvo de extracto metanólico de Chlorella vulgaris); III (polvo de extracto acuoso de Spirulina platensis); IV (polvo de extracto metanólico de Spirulina platensis), y V (grupo control). La dosis usada fue de 25 g/día/rata. Después de seis días, se evaluaron todos los parámetros y cambios macroscópicos en los órganos. Resultados. Se encontraron alcaloides y flavonoides en los extractos metanólicos de Chlorella vulgaris y Spirulina platensis (Arthrospira). Se detectaron glucósidos cardiacos y esteroides en los extractos de Spirulina platensis. Los extractos de Chlorella vulgaris inhibieron el crecimiento de Bacillus cereus. Las ratas alimentadas con los polvos de Chlorella vulgaris y Spirulina platensisincrementaron el conteo de leucocitos y los valores de hemoglobina comparados con el grupo control (p<0,001). Las transaminasas (SGOT y SGPT) se encontraron en valores normales, pero con diferencias significativas entre los grupos (p<0,001). Conclusiones. Estos polvos son ricos en componentes fitoquímicos activos, pero solo los extractos de Chorella vulgaris mostraron efecto antibacteriano. No se encontraron signos de toxicidad aguda en ningún parámetro.

Spirulina non-protein components induce BDNF gene transcription via HO-1 activity in C6 glioma cells.

Blue-green algae are known to contain biologically active proteins and non-protein substances and considered as useful materials for manufacturing the nutritional supplements. Particularly, Spirulina has been reported to contain a variety of antioxidants, such as flavonoids, carotenoids, and vitamin C, thereby exerting their protective effects against the oxidative damage to the cells. In addition to their antioxidant actions, polyphenolic compounds have been speculated to cause the protection of neuronal cells and the recovery of neurologic function in the brain through the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in glial cells. Then, the protein-deprived extract was prepared by removing the most part of protein components from aqueous extract of Spirulina platensis, and the effect of this extract on BDNF gene transcription was examined in C6 glioma cells. Consequently, the protein-deprived extract was shown to cause the elevation of BDNF mRNA levels following the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the glioma cells. Therefore, the non-protein components of S. platensis are considered to stimulate BDNF gene transcription through the HO-1 induction in glial cells, thus proposing a potential ability of the algae to indirectly modulate the brain function through the glial cell activity.