Chlorella vulgaris reduces the impact of stress on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and brain c-fos expression

Impact of the severity of brain injury on secondary adrenal insufficiency in traumatic brain injury patients and the influence of HPA axis dysfunction on prognosis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate secondary adrenal insufficiency post varying traumatic brain injuries' and its impact on prognosis.

METHODS

120 traumatic brain injury patients were categorized into mild, moderate and severe groups based on Glasgow Coma Scale. Adrenal function was evaluated through testing.

RESULTS

Secondary adrenal insufficiency rates were 0% (mild), 22.85% (moderate) and 44.82% (severe). Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction rates were 14.81% (mild), 42.85% (moderate) and 63.79% (severe). Differences among groups were significant (p < .05). Patients with intact hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis had shorter hospital stays and higher Glasgow Coma Scale scores. Receiver operating characteristic analysis of 24-h urinary free cortisol showed an area of 0.846, with a 17.62 μg/24h cutoff, 98.32% sensitivity and 52.37% specificity. In the low-dose adrenocorticotropic hormone test, with an 18 μg/dL cutoff, the receiver operating characteristic area was 0.546, with 46.28% sensitivity and 89.39% specificity.

CONCLUSION

As traumatic brain injury severity increases, secondary adrenal insufficiency incidence rises. The low-dose adrenocorticotropic hormone test is promising for hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis evaluation. Patients with hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal dysfunction experience prolonged hospitalization and worse prognosis.

Benefits of Chlorella vulgaris against Cadmium Chloride-Induced Hepatic and Renal Toxicities via Restoring the Cellular Redox Homeostasis and Modulating Nrf2 and NF-KB Pathways in Male Rats

In our life scenarios, we are involuntarily exposed to many heavy metals that are well-distributed in water, food, and air and have adverse health effects on animals and humans. Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most toxic 10 chemicals reported by The World Health Organization (WHO), affecting organ structure and function. In our present study, we use one of the green microalga Chlorella vulgaris (ChV, 500 mg/kg body weight) to investigate the beneficial effects against CdCl2-induced hepato-renal toxicity (Cd, 2 mg/kg body weight for 10 days) on adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. In brief, 40 adult male rats were divided into four groups (n = 10); Control, ChV, Cd, and Cd + ChV. Cadmium alters liver and kidney architecture and disturbs the cellular signaling cascade, resulting in loss of body weight, alteration of the hematological picture, and increased ALT, AST, ALP, and urea in the blood serum. Moreover, cadmium puts hepatic and renal cells under oxidative stress due to the up-regulation of lipid peroxidation resulting in a significant increase in the IgG level as an innate immunity protection and induction of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) that causes hepatic hemorrhage, irregular hepatocytes in the liver and focal glomeruli swelling and proximal tubular degeneration in the kidney. ChV additive to CdCl2, could organize the protein translation process via NF-kB/Nrf2 pathways to prevent oxidative damage by maintaining cellular redox homeostasis and improving the survival of and tolerance of cells against oxidative damage caused by cadmium. The present study shed light on the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties of Chlorella vulgaris that suppress the toxicity influence of CdCl2.

Bioinspired pH-Responsive Microalgal Hydrogels for Oral Insulin Delivery with Both Hypoglycemic and Insulin Sensitizing Effects

The oral form of insulin is more convenient and has better patient compliance than subcutaneous or intravenous insulin. Current oral insulin preparations, however, cannot overcome the enzyme barrier, chemical barrier, and epithelial barrier of the gastrointestinal tract completely. In this study, a microalgae-based oral insulin delivery strategy (CV@INS@ALG) was developed using Chlorella vulgaris (CV)-based insulin delivery system cross-linking with sodium alginate (ALG). CV@INS@ALG could overcome the gastrointestinal barrier, protect insulin from harsh gastric conditions, and achieve a pH-responsive drug release in the intestine. CV@INS@ALG might contribute to two mechanisms of insulin absorption, including direct insulin release from the delivery system and endocytosis by M cells and macrophages. In the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic mouse model, CV@INS@ALG showed a more effective and long-lasting hypoglycemic effect than direct insulin injection and did not cause any damage to the intestinal tract. Additionally, the long-term oral administration of the carrier CV@ALG effectively ameliorated gut microbiota disorder, and significantly increased the abundance of probiotic Akkermansia in db/db type 2 diabetic mice, thereby enhancing the insulin sensitivity of mice. Microalgal insulin delivery systems could be degraded and metabolized in the intestinal tract after oral administration, showing good biodegradability and biosafety. This insulin delivery strategy based on microalgal biomaterials provides a natural, efficient, and multifunctional solution for oral insulin delivery.

Mitigation of endogenous oxidative stress and improving growth, hemato-biochemical parameters, and reproductive performance of Zaraibi goat bucks by dietary supplementation with Chlorella vulgaris or/and vitamin C

This study was conducted to explore the effects of dietary inclusion of Chlorella vulgaris (CV) or/and vitamin C (VC) on growth, hemato-biochemical parameters, oxidative and antioxidant status, reproductive hormones, and semen quality variables, and scrotal-testicular dimensions of Zaraibi goat bucks. Twenty sexually mature bucks (41.49 ± 0.91 kg BW) were randomly divided into 4 groups (5 bucks/group). The control group was fed the control diet, while the other three groups received a diet supplemented with VC (2 g/animal /day), CV (5 g/animal/day), and CV plus VC (the same levels), respectively, for 8 weeks (treatment period), and then semen was collected for 8 weeks. Results showed that dietary supplementation with CV-VC combination significantly increased the final body weight, weight gain, packed cell volume, hemoglobin, red blood cells, white blood cells, and lymphocytes; elevated serum total protein, globulin, testosterone, estradiol, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase with a significant reduction in Malondialdehyde in serum and seminal plasma. Also, the CV-VC combination significantly improved the ejaculate volume, total sperm output, sperm concentration, and live sperm, and reduced reaction time and sperm abnormality of bucks. Either CV or VC given separately or in combination, at the chosen levels, had no detrimental effects on animal physiological responses with normal hepatic and renal functions. Therefore, the CV-VC combination could be safely utilized as a dietary supplement in buck's diets to improve antioxidant defenses, scavenge free radicals, and potentiate buck's reproductive activities under normal conditions.

Post-Weaning Treatment with Probiotic Inhibited Stress-Induced Amnesia in Adulthood Rats: The Mediation of GABAergic System and BDNF/c-Fos Signaling Pathways

The current study aimed to examine the effect of post-weaning treatment with probiotics on memory formation under stress during the adult period in male Wistar rats. Considering GABA is a potential mediator between probiotics and the host, the present study also investigated the involvement of the GABAergic system in the probiotic response. The hippocampal and prefrontal cortical (PFC) expression levels of BDNF and c-Fos were also assessed to show whether the treatments affect the memory-related signaling pathway. Three weeks after birth, the post-weaning rats were fed with probiotic water (PW) or tap water (TW) for 2, 3, 4, or 5 weeks. Exposure to acute stress impaired memory formation in a passive avoidance learning task. Feeding the post-weaning animals with probiotic strains (3, 4, or 5 weeks) inhibited stress-induced amnesia of the adult period. Post-training intracerebroventricular (ICV) microinjection of muscimol improved stress-induced amnesia in the animals fed with TW. ICV microinjection of muscimol inhibited probiotic treatment's significant effect on the stress response in the memory task. The expression levels of BDNF and c-Fos in the PFC and the hippocampus were significantly decreased in the stress animal group. The levels of BDNF and c-Fos were increased in the PW/stress animal group. The muscimol response was compounded with the decreased levels of BDNF and c-Fos in the PFC and the hippocampus. Thus, the GABA-A receptor mechanism may mediate the inhibitory effect of this probiotic mixture on stress-induced amnesia, which may be associated with the PFC and hippocampal BDNF/c-Fos signaling changes.

Chlorella vulgaris or Spirulina platensis mitigate lead acetate-induced testicular oxidative stress and apoptosis with regard to androgen receptor expression in rats

The current research was constructed to throw the light on the protective possibility of Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) and Spirulina platensis (S. platensis) against lead acetate-promoted testicular dysfunction in male rats. Forty rats were classified into four groups: (i) control, (ii) rats received lead acetate (30 mg/kg bw), (iii) rats concomitantly received lead acetate and C. vulgaris (300 mg/kg bw), (vi) rats were simultaneously treated with lead acetate and S. platensis (300 mg/kg bw) via oral gavage for 8 weeks. Lead acetate promoted testicular injury as expressed with fall in reproductive organ weights and gonadosomatic index (GSI). Lead acetate disrupted spermatogenesis as indicated by sperm cell count reduction and increased sperm malformation percentage. Lead acetate-deteriorated steroidogenesis is evoked by minimized serum testosterone along with maximized follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. Testicular oxidative, inflammatory, and apoptotic cascades are revealed by elevated acid phosphatase (ACP) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) serum leakage, declined testicular total antioxidative capacity (TAC) with elevated total oxidative capacity (TOC), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), caspase-3 levels, lessened androgen receptor (AR) expression, and histopathological lesions against control. Our research highlights that C. vulgaris or S. platensis therapy can modulate lead acetate-promoted testicular dysfunction via their antioxidant activity as expressed by elevated TAC and reduced TOC, immunomodulatory effect as indicated by lessened TNF-α level, and anti-apoptotic potential that was revealed by minimized caspase-3 levels. As well as restoration of testicular histoarchitecture, androgen receptor, steroidogenesis, and spermatogenesis were detected with better impacts to S. platensis comparing with C. vulgaris. Therefore, further clinical trials are needed to test S. platensis and C. vulgaris as a promising candidate in treating male infertility.

Potential of Chlorella as a Dietary Supplement to Promote Human Health

Chlorella is a green unicellular alga that is commercially produced and distributed worldwide as a dietary supplement. Chlorella products contain numerous nutrients and vitamins, including D and B12, that are absent in plant-derived food sources. Chlorella contains larger amounts of folate and iron than other plant-derived foods. Chlorella supplementation to mammals, including humans, has been reported to exhibit various pharmacological activities, including immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and antihyperlipidemic activities. Meta-analysis on the effects of Chlorella supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors have suggested that it improves total cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose levels but not triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. These beneficial effects of Chlorella might be due to synergism between multiple nutrient and antioxidant compounds. However, information regarding the bioactive compounds in Chlorella is limited.

Chlorella vulgaris as a Source of Essential Fatty Acids and Micronutrients: A Brief Commentary

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) comprise about 35-40% of the total lipid content from green algaeChlorella, reaching up to 24% linoleic acid and 27% α-linolenic acid inC. vulgaris. Also, microalgae nutrient composition may be modulated by changes in the culture medium, increasing fatty acid and microelement concentrations in the algae biomass. PUFAs, such as α-linolenic (n-3) and linoleic (n-6) acids, as well as its derivatives, are considered essential for dietary consumption, and their ability to regulate body chemistry has been recently explored in depth. A balanced fatty acid consumption is shown to counteract the negative effects of western diets, such as chronic inflammation and glucose intolerance. In this brief commentary, technological and practical uses ofC. vulgarisare explored as means to improve dietary quality and, ultimately, human health.