Beneficial effects of phycobiliproteins from Spirulina maxima in a preeclampsia model.

AIMS: Considering phycobiliproteins of Spirulina maxima has shown a wide margin of security in pregnant and non-pregnant animals as well as antioxidant properties, present study aimed to investigate if the cardiovascular and metabolic effects of an experimental model of preeclampsia can be prevented by the administration of this compound. MAIN METHODS: Subrenal aortic coarctation (SRAC) practiced to female Wistar rats of 8 weeks of age. Animals were divided randomly to conform non-pregnant and pregnant groups and pregnant with SRAC showed fetoplacental ischemia and were considered preeclamptic (PE). Groups were treated with saline solution (control group) or phycobiliproteins solution (100 mg/kg/day ig) for the last 7, 14 or 20 days of pregnancy. KEY FINDINGS: PE animals showed increased systolic blood pressure, weight gain, glucose and GTT as well as vascular contractility. Also, PE animals showed decreased SOD, GPx activities while MDA was increased. Phycobiliproteins oral treatment for 3 weeks significantly decreased systolic blood pressure and reestablished glucose, weight gain and vascular contractility as well as enzyme activities of PE rats to those of normal pregnant animals. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results show that phycobiliproteins can prevent the damage produced by fetoplacental ischemia and provides evidence of free radical species contribution to the physiopathology of the disease. Also, we conclude phycobiliproteins can be an alternative to reduce preeclampsia manifestations, however, more studies are recommended.

Phycobiliproteins or C-phycocyanin of Arthrospira (Spirulina) maxima protect against HgCl(2)-caused oxidative stress and renal damage.

Our objective was to determine if the phycobiliproteins of Arthrospira (Spirulina) maxima protect renal cells against mercury-caused oxidative stress and cellular damage in the kidney. We used 40 male mice that were assigned into eight groups: (1) a control group that received 100mM phosphate buffer (PB) ig and 0.9% saline ip, (2) PB+HgCl(2) (5mg/kg ip), (3) PB plus phycobiliproteins (100mg/kg ig), (4) PB plus C-phycocyanin (100mg/kg ig), and four groups receiving HgCl(2)+phycobiliproteins or C-phycocyanin (50, and 100mg/kg ig). The left kidneys were used to determine lipid peroxidation, quantification of reactive oxygen species, and reduced glutathione and oxidised content. The right kidneys were processed for histology. The HgCl(2) caused oxidative stress and cellular damage. All doses of phycobiliproteins or C-phycocyanin prevented enhancement of oxidative markers and they protected against HgCl(2)-caused cellular damage.