Efficacy Of Spirulina Research Articles

Efficacy of Spirulina sp. polyhydroxyalkanoates extraction methods and influence on polymer properties and composition

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of methods used to extract polyhydroxyalkanoates from Spirulina sp. LEB-18 microalgae and to examine the influence of these methods on the purity, properties, and composition of the polymers. Polyhydroxyalkanoates were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), molecular mass, degree of crystallinity, and monomer composition. The efficacy of the extraction methods varied, with polyhydroxyalkanoate accumulation.between 6.10 and 9.80%, and degrees of purity between 63.51 and 93.62%. Using sodium hypochlorite in the initial stage of the extraction increased accumulation, while using methanol at the end of the process increased the purity of the polymers. The molecular mass and crystallinity index of the polyhydroxyalkanoates varied, showing that the extraction methods interfered with polymer properties. The composition of polyhydroxyalkanoates was also influenced by the extraction, with varying percentages of monomers identified. The copolymers of the polyhydroxyalkanoates obtained are formed by the monomers 11-hydroxyhexadecanoate, in a higher proportion, hydroxyheptanoate and hydroxytetradecanoate, demonstrating that Spirulina sp. LEB-18 is capable of producing medium and long chain polymers. The detection of these monomer blocks in the polyhydroxyalkanoate structure of this microalga is an important scientific novelty because these monomer blocks are constituents of new polymers. An indirect relationship (R2 = 0.8044) was observed between the percentage of the 11-hydroxyhexadecanoate monomer and the degree of crystallinity of polyhydroxyalkanoates obtained by the different methods. This suggests that obtaining the polymer with medium- and long-chain monomers contributes to reduction of crystallinity.

Efficacy of spirulina with isometric exercises in the management of oral submucous fibrosis

Efficacy of spirulina with isometric exercises in the management of oral submucous fibrosis

Efficacy of Spirulina (Tahlab) in Patients of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (Ziabetus Shakri) - A Randomized Controlled Trial

Aims: Diabetes mellitus (DM) (Ziabetus Shakri) is a common metabolic disease affecting 150,000,000 people worldwide. Despite the recent advancements in management of Diabetes its relative co-morbidities and mortality is ever increasing globally. Unani scholars had claimed the effectiveness of several anti-diabetic drugs in the classical texts in the management of DM, but it lacks scientific documentation. Hence, a clinical trial was contemplated to evaluate the efficacy of test drug Tahlab (Spirulina) in patients of type 2 DM. Methods: The study was a single blind randomized standard control conducted on 40 patients of type 2 DM. 30 subjects were allocated to test and 10 to control group. Test group received 7 grams of Tahlab powder twice a day, and control group received Metformin (500 mg) 1 tablet twice a day for a period of 45 days. Subjective and objective parameters were assessed at 0, 15th, 30th, 45th day. Results: The Mean score for FBS in test group has declined from 245.53 to 204.87 and PPBS from 345.73 to 303.67 respectively. The Mean score for FBS in control group has declined from 227.60 to 191.80 and PPBS from 329.60 to 282.80 respectively. Intergroup comparison revealed test drug to be similar to that of control drug in reducing FBS and PPBS. HbA1c and urine sugar remained unaltered in both groups. The results were assessed statistically using two tailed student t test, paired proportion test and Fischer exact test. Conclusions: The study revealed that the test drug is safe and equally effective when compared to control drug.

The protective efficacy of spirulina against bacterial endotoxin potentiated alcoholic liver disease

One of the most important factors for the development of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the activation of immune cells residing in the liver by a substance called endotoxin, which is released by the bacteria living in the intestine. Alcohol consumption can lead to increased endotoxin levels in the blood and liver, which activates Kupffer cell leading to fibrosis. Novel approaches to inhibit these processes might help to prevent ALD. The present study was aimed to find out the protective effect of spirulina on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) potentiated alcoholic liver disease. Male albino Wister rats were randomly divided into five groups. Group 1 received isocaloric glucose. Group 2 received spirulina (500 mg/kg b.w.). Hepatic injury was induced in groups 3–5 by administrating 20% ethanol (5 g/kg b.w for 10 days). Groups 4 and 5 were challenged with LPS on the 11th day of the experimental period. Group 5 was co-administered with spirulina. LPS challenged by alcohol treated rats showed a marked elevation in circulatory lipid peroxidation, DNA damage and hepatic marker enzymes. Liver of LPS challenged alcoholic rats showed marked inflammatory cell infiltrates and fatty changes. Co-administration of spirulina showed reduction in biochemical and histological changes toward near normal.