Spirulina platensis alleviates the liver, brain and heart oxidative stress in Type 1 diabetic rats

Abstract

Spirulina platensis (SPI) is a microalga with a high content of functional compou nds, such as phenolics, phycocyanins and polysaccharides that has been shown to have antioxidant, anti - inflammatory, hypoglycemic, neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects. The objectives of the present work were to study the possible effects of SPI treatment on the glycemic -lipid profile, oxid a- tive stress, lipid peroxidation and cardiac performance in diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) in male Wistar rats. In diabeti c animals SPI, at a dos e of 50 mg/kg/day, reduced lipid peroxidation, nitrite levels and lipids in plasma and tissues. SPI exhibited an effective improvement on +dP/dT and −dP/dT in non -diabetic rats. This study showed that SPI signif i- cantly suppressed nit rite generation and lipoperoxidation in the hearts o f d i- abetic animals, as well as an improvement in the cardiac function in control SPI - treated rats which is consistent with several studies that demonstrated the protective effect of antioxidants on oxidative stress -mediated injury caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in diabetic myocardial tissues.