Selective monoamine oxidase B inhibition by an Aphanizomenon flos-aquae extract and by its constitutive active principles phycocyanin and mycosporine-like amino acids

Exploring the Neuroprotective Effects of Spirulina platensis: Insights Into Hemorrhagic Volume and Histological Outcomes

Background Hemorrhagic events can result in significant neurological damage, and identifying effective strategies for neuroprotection is crucial. Several studies have directed their attention to the alterations in perilesional parenchymal tissue. These investigations have sought to modify ischemic and metabolic changes by utilizing potential neuroprotective agents and to develop strategies that effectively mitigate secondary perilesional neuronal damage. By gaining a deeper understanding of its mechanisms and efficacy, Spirulina platensis can emerge as a promising therapeutic intervention for various neurological disorders. Methodology This controlled and blinded experimental study was conducted on adult male Wistar rats. The rats were divided into the treatment group, which received Spirulina platensis extract for 30 days before the hemorrhagic event, and the control group, where all animals underwent the same experimental hemorrhage model using collagenase. Each group was divided into the following three subgroups based on the sacrifice time: six hours, 24 hours, and 30 days. The brain section with the largest hemorrhage volume was selected for histological analysis. The number of viable neurons was analyzed in the perilesional zone and the cortical fields along the puncture trajectory. Neurofunctional evaluations were conducted on animals sacrificed 15 and 30 days after the procedure. Results Initial analysis showed no significant difference in viable neurons between groups (p = 0.63). Still, after 24 hours, the treatment group had a significantly higher number of viable neurons per peripheral fields (18.5) compared to the control group (13.4; p < 0.05). Neurofunctional tests at 15 days indicated a trend toward significance in absolute discrimination (p = 0.054), with the control group showing higher mean values (5.5, SD = 3.1) than the treatment group (-1, SD = 5.1). The discrimination index exhibited a significant difference (p < 0.01), with higher mean values in the control group (0.59, SD = 0.34) compared to the treatment group (-0.05, SD = 0.21). No significant differences were found in other neurofunctional parameters at this time point. At 30 days, no significant differences were observed in absolute discrimination, discrimination index, contralateral paw elevation, rearing time, and wire hanging time test (p > 0.1); however, the treatment group presented a better motor performance in the open field test (14.2, SD = 9.02) compared to the control group (5.25, SD = 2.06), approaching significance (p = 0.06). Conclusions The group treated with Spirulina platensis demonstrated significantly more viable neurons in the perilesional fields 24 hours after the induced hemorrhage. The treatment group also had a relatively better motor performance in the open field test 30 days after the hemorrhage (p = 0.06). These findings suggest a potential neuroprotection effect and warrant further investigations to explore the effects of Spirulina platensis and its active component phycocyanin in acute neurological conditions.

Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) Extract Prevents Neurodegeneration in the HFD Mouse Model by Modulating Astrocytes and Microglia Activation

Obesity and related metabolic dysfunctions are associated with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) is a cyanobacterium considered a suitable supplement for its nutritional profile and beneficial properties. The potential neuroprotective effect of an AFA extract, commercialized as KlamExtra^®, including the two AFA extracts Klamin^® and AphaMax^®, in High-Fat Diet (HFD)-fed mice was explored. Three groups of mice were provided with a standard diet (Lean), HFD or HFD supplemented with AFA extract (HFD + AFA) for 28 weeks. Metabolic parameters, brain insulin resistance, expression of apoptosis biomarkers, modulation of astrocytes and microglia activation markers, and Aβ deposition were analyzed and compared in the brains of different groups. AFA extract treatment attenuated HFD-induced neurodegeneration by reducing insulin resistance and loss of neurons. AFA supplementation improved the expression of synaptic proteins and reduced the HFD-induced astrocytes and microglia activation, and Aβ plaques accumulation. Together, these outcomes indicate that regular intake of AFA extract could benefit the metabolic and neuronal dysfunction caused by HFD, decreasing neuroinflammation and promoting Aβ plaques clearance.

Spasmolytic Effects of Aphanizomenon Flos Aquae (AFA) Extract on the Human Colon Contractility

The blue-green algae Aphanizomenon flos aquae (AFA), rich in beneficial nutrients, exerts various beneficial effects, acting in different organs including the gut. Klamin^® is an AFA extract particularly rich in β-PEA, a trace-amine considered a neuromodulator in the central nervous system. To date, it is not clear if β-PEA exerts a role in the enteric nervous system. The aims of the present study were to investigate the effects induced by Klamin^® on the human distal colon mechanical activity, to analyze the mechanism of action, and to verify a β-PEA involvement. The organ bath technique, RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used. Klamin^® reduced, in a concentration-dependent manner, the amplitude of the spontaneous contractions. EPPTB, a trace-amine receptor (TAAR1) antagonist, significantly antagonized the inhibitory effects of both Klamin^® and exogenous β-PEA, suggesting a trace-amine involvement in the Klamin^® effects. Accordingly, AphaMax^®, an AFA extract containing lesser amount of β-PEA, failed to modify colon contractility. Moreover, the Klamin^® effects were abolished by tetrodotoxin, a neural blocker, but not by L-NAME, a nitric oxide-synthase inhibitor. On the contrary methysergide, a serotonin receptor antagonist, significantly antagonized the Klamin^® effects, as well as the contractility reduction induced by 5-HT. The RT-PCR analysis revealed TAAR1 gene expression in the colon and the IHC experiments showed that 5-HT-positive neurons are co-expressed with TAAR1 positive neurons. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that Klamin^® exerts spasmolytic effects in human colon contractility through β-PEA, that, by activating neural TAAR1, induce serotonin release from serotoninergic neurons of the myenteric plexus.

AphaMax®, an Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Aqueous Extract, Exerts Intestinal Protective Effects in Experimental Colitis in Rats

BACKGROUND

Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) is a unicellular cyanobacterium considered to be a "superfood" for its complete nutritional profile and beneficial properties. We investigated possible beneficial effects of an AFA extract, commercialized as AphaMax^®, containing concentrated amount of phycocyanins and phytochrome, in 2,4 dinitrobenzensulfonic acid(DNBS)-induced colitis in rats.

METHODS

Effects of preventive oral treatment of AphaMax^® (20, 50 or 100 mg/kg/day) in colitic rats were assessed and then macroscopic and microscopic analyses were performed to evaluate the inflammation degree. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and NF-κB, pro-inflammatory citockines, cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible NOS (iNOS) levels of expression were determined, as Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and nitrite levels.

RESULTS

AphaMax^® treatment attenuated the severity of colitis ameliorating clinical signs. AphaMax^® reduced the histological colonic damage and decreased MPO activity, NF-κB activation, as well as iNOS and COX-2 expression. AphaMax^® treatment improved the altered immune response associated with colonic inflammation reducing IL-1β, IL-6 expression. Lastly, AphaMax^® reduced oxidative stress, decreasing ROS and nitrite levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Preventive treatment with AphaMax^® attenuates the severity of the inflammation in DNBS colitis rats involving decrease of the NF-kB activation, reduction of iNOS and COX-2 expression, and inhibition of oxidative stress. Due its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant proprieties AphaMax^® could be a good candidate as a complementary drug in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment.

Enhanced In Situ Availability of Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Constituents Entrapped in Buccal Films for the Treatment of Oxidative Stress-Related Oral Diseases: Biomechanical Characterization and In Vitro/Ex Vivo Evaluation

In recent years, the key role of oxidative stress in pathogenesis of oral diseases has been emphasized and the use of antioxidant agents has been encouraged. Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) is a unicellular blue-green alga with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was the formulation and characterization of mucoadhesive thin layer films loaded with AFA, finalized to the treatment of oxidative stress (OS)-related oral diseases. First, to enhance the bioavailability of AFA constituents, the raw food grade material was appropriately treated by a high frequency homogenization able to disrupt cell walls. Thus, Eudragit^® E100-based buccal films were produced by the solvent casting method, containing 7% and 18% of AFA. The films, characterized by uniformity in thickness, weight, and drug content, showed low swelling degree, good muco-adhesiveness and controlled drug release. The mechanical tests showed elastic moduli of films of almost 5 MPa that is well-suitable for human buccal applications without discomfort, besides biaxial tests highlighted a marked material isotropy. Permeation studies through porcine mucosae demonstrated the ability of films to promote AFA penetration in the tissues, and when sublingually administered, they produced a drug flux up to six-fold higher than an AFA solution. The new formulations represent an interesting alternative for the development of cosmetics and nutraceuticals with a functional appeal containing plant extracts.

Effects of the Aphanizomenon flos-aquae Extract (Klamin®) on a Neurodegeneration Cellular Model

Cyanobacteria have been recognized as a source of bioactive molecules to be employed in nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and functional foods. An extract of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA), commercialized as Klamin®, was subjected to chemical analysis to determine its compounds. The AFA extract Klamin® resulted to be nontoxic, also at high doses, when administered onto LAN5 neuronal cells. Its scavenging properties against ROS generation were evaluated by using DCFH-DA assay, and its mitochondrial protective role was determined by JC-1 and MitoSOX assays. Klamin® exerts a protective role against beta amyloid- (Aβ-) induced toxicity and against oxidative stress. Anti-inflammatory properties were demonstrated by NFβB nuclear localization and activation of IL-6 and IL-1β inflammatory cytokines through ELISA. Finally, by using thioflavin T (ThT) and fluorimetric measures, we found that Klamin® interferes with Aβ aggregation kinetics, supporting the formation of smaller and nontoxic structures compared to toxic Aβ aggregates alone. Altogether, these data indicate that the AFA extract may play a protective role against mechanisms leading to neurodegeneration.

The Effect of Experimental Supplementation with the Klamath Algae Extract Klamin on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic neurobiological condition with onset in childhood. The disorder is characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and/or motor hyperactivity, which often affect the development and social integration of affected subjects. Phenylethylamine (PEA), naturally contained in the Klamath Lake microalgae and concentrated in the Klamin^® extract, is an endogenous molecule with a general neuromodulatory activity. It functions as an activator for the neurotransmission of dopamine and other catecholamines, and very low concentrations of PEA may be associated with specific psychological disorders such as ADHD. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Klamin extract in treating a group of subjects diagnosed with ADHD. Thirty subjects, aged 6-15, who had been diagnosed with ADHD according to the DSM-IV TR criteria, were enrolled. The supplement was administered to all the subjects, who reported to an ADHD clinic for routine follow-up visits. Observations were made and data collected over a 6-month period. After 6 months of therapy the subjects appeared to show significant improvements based on assessments of their overall functioning, behavioral aspects related to inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity, attention functions in both the selective and sustained component and executive functions. The study appears to confirm the initial hypothesis that the Klamin extract may positively affect the expression of ADHD symptoms. Additional larger studies on the effects of Klamin on ADHD are needed to further investigate the potential of this extract in ADHD treatment.

Mycosporine-like Amino Acids and Other Phytochemicals Directly Detected by High-Resolution NMR on Klamath (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae) Blue-Green Algae

This study describes for the first time the use of high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) on Klamath (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, AFA) blue-green algae directly on powder suspension. These algae are considered to be a "superfood", due to their complete nutritional profile that has proved to have important therapeutic effects. The main advantage of NMR spectroscopy is that it permits the detection of a number of metabolites all at once. The Klamath alga metabolome was revealed to be quite complex, and the most peculiar phytochemicals that can be detected directly on algae by NMR are mycosporine-like amino acids (porphyra-334, P334; shinorine, Shi) and low molecular weight glycosides (glyceryl β-d-galactopyranoside, GalpG; glyceryl 6-amino-6-deoxy-α-d-glucopyranoside, ADG), all compounds with a high nutraceutical value. The presence of cis-3,4-DhLys was revealed for the first time. This molecule could be involved in the anticancer properties ascribed to AFA.

Phycocyanin-encapsulating hyalurosomes as carrier for skin delivery and protection from oxidative stress damage

The phycobiliprotein phycocyanin, extracted from Klamath algae, possesses important biological properties but it is characterized by a low bioavailability due to its high molecular weight. To overcome the bioavailability problems, phycocyanin was successfully encapsulated, using an environmentally-friendly method, into hyalurosomes, a new kind of phospholipid vesicles immobilised with hyaluronan sodium salt by the simple addition of drug/sodium hyaluronate water dispersion to phospholipids. Liposomes were used as a comparison. Vesicles were small in size and homogeneously dispersed, being the mean size always smaller than 150 nm and PI never higher than 0.31. Liposomes were unilamellar and spherical, the addition of the polymer slightly modify the vesicular shape which remain spherical, while the addition of PEG improve the lamellarity of vesicles being multilamellar vesicles. In all cases phycocyanin was encapsulated in good amount especially using hyalurosomes and PEG hyalurosomes (65 and 61% respectively). In vitro penetration studies suggested that hyalurosomes favoured the phycocyanin deposition in the deeper skin layers probably thanks to their peculiar hyaluronan-phospholipid structure. Moreover, hyalurosomes were highly biocompatible and improved phycocyanin antioxidant activity on stressed human keratinocytes respect to the drug solution.

Inhibitory effects of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae constituents on human UDP-glucose dehydrogenase activity

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vitro inhibitory effects of the edible microalga Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) on human UDP-α-d-glucose 6-dehydrogenase (UGDH) activity, a cytosolic enzyme involved both in tumor progression and in phytochemical bioavailability.

METHODS

Both the hydrophilic and ethanolic AFA extracts as well as the constitutive active principles phycocyanin (PC), phycocyanobilin (PCB) and mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) were tested.

RESULTS

Among AFA components, PCB presented the strongest inhibitory effect on UGDH activity, acting as a competitive inhibitor with respect to UDP-glucose and a non-competitive inhibitor with respect to NAD(+). In preliminary experiments, AFA PCB was also effective in reducing the colony formation capacity of PC-3 prostate cancer cells and FTC-133 thyroid cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, these findings confirmed that AFA and its active principles are natural compounds with high biological activity. Further studies evaluating the effects of AFA PCB in reducing tumor cell growth and phytochemical glucuronidation are encouraged.