Safety assessment of Spirulina platensis through sprague dawley rats modeling

Tendencies Affecting the Growth and Cultivation of Genus Spirulina: An Investigative Review on Current Trends

Spirulina, a kind of blue-green algae, is one of the Earth's oldest known forms of life. Spirulina grows best in very alkaline environments, although it may flourish across a wide variety of pH values. There are several techniques for growing Spirulina spp., ranging from open systems such as ponds and lakes, which are vulnerable to contamination by animals and extraterrestrial species, to closed systems such as photovoltaic reactors, which are not. Most contaminated toxins come from other toxic algae species that become mixed up during harvest, necessitating the study of spirulina production processes at home. Lighting, temperature, inoculation volume, stirring speed, dissolved particles, pH, water quality, and overall micronutrient richness are only a few of the environmental parameters influencing spirulina production. This review article covers the conditions required for spirulina cultivation, as well as a number of crucial factors that influence its growth and development while it is being grown. In addition, the article discusses harvesting processes, biomass measurement methods, the identification of dangerous algae, and the risk of contaminating algae as it grows on cultures. Spirulina's rising prospects as food for human consumption are a direct outcome of its prospective health and therapeutic advantages.

Hepatosplenic Protective Actions of Spirulina platensis and Matcha Green Tea Against Schistosoma mansoni Infection in Mice via Antioxidative and Anti-inflammatory Mechanisms

Schistosomiasis, a major parasitic illness, has high morbidity and negative financial effects in subtropical and tropical countries, including Egypt. The present study investigated the therapeutic effects of Spirulina platensis (SP) and matcha green tea (MGT) in Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice combined with tracing their possible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory impacts and their protective potency. A total of 60 Swiss albino mice were randomly allocated into six groups (n = 10): control group (CNT, received normal saline); SP–MGT group [received oral SP (3 g/kg bodyweight/day) plus MGT (3 g/kg bodyweight/day)]; S. mansoni group (infected with S. mansoni cercariae, 100 ± 10/mouse, using the tail immersion method); SP-infected group (infected with S. mansoni and received oral SP); MGT-infected group (received oral MGT after S. mansoni infection); and SP–MGT-infected group (received combined treatment of SP and MGT after S. mansoni infection). Treatment with SP and MGT started 4 weeks after S. mansoni infection and ended 10 weeks after. SP and MGT treatment (SP-infected and MGT-infected groups) and the combined treatment (SP–MGT-infected group) minimized the hepatic damage induced by S. mansoni; circulating alanine aminotransferase and aspartate transaminase decreased, and total protein, albumin, and globulin serum levels increased. The serum level of malondialdehyde significantly declined, and catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity increased in SP-infected, MGT-infected, and SP–MGT-infected groups compared with the infected group. Co-administration of SP and MGT reduced serum cytokine levels (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, and interleukin-13) and increased interleukin-10 levels after S. mansoni infection compared with the infected group. Moreover, treatment with SP and/or MGT decreased the number of granulomas in hepatic and splenic tissues compared with the infected group. Collectively, our results suggest that combined SP and MGT treatment is effective for S. mansoni infection. Liver and spleen tissue alterations were improved, the antioxidant systems were stimulated, and the inflammatory response was suppressed. Further research is recommended to investigate the mechanisms of the combined SP and MGT treatment effects to facilitate the development of novel therapies against this disease.

The effect of spirulina on type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of spirulina on lipid profiles and glycemic related markers in type 2 diabetes patients.

Methods

PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched from inception to August 2020. All clinical trials which investigated the effect of spirulina supplementation on glycemic related markers and lipid profile among type 2 diabetes patients were included. Random effects modeling was utilized for pooling analysis to compensate for the between-study heterogeneity.

Results

Eight studies (9 arms) were included in the meta-analysis. We found a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose (-17.88 mg/dl; 95% CI: -26.99, -8.78; I ² : 25%), triglyceride (-30.99 mg/dl; 95% CI: -45.20, -16.77; I ² : 50%), total-cholesterol (-18.47 mg/dl; 95% CI: -33.54, -3.39; I ² : 73%), LDL-C (-20.04 mg/dl; 95% CI: -34.06, -6.02; I ² : 75%), VLDL (-6.96 mg/dl; 95% CI: -9.71, -4.22; I ² : 33%), in addition to a significant increase in HDL-C (-6.96 mg/dl; 95% CI: -9.71, -4.22; I ² : 33%), after spirulina administration. No significant effect was observed on HbA1C or post prandial blood sugar following spirulina consumption.

Conclusion

The present study suggests that spirulina supplementation can elicit beneficial effects on fasting blood glucose and blood lipid profiles.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-021-00760-z.