Anti-cancer effects of blue-green alga Spirulina platensis, a natural source of bilirubin-like tetrapyrrolic compounds
Language English Country Mexico Media print
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PubMed
24552870
PII: S1665-2681(19)30891-9
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- MeSH
- Antineoplastic Agents pharmacology MeSH
- Bilirubin pharmacology MeSH
- Glutathione metabolism MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Disease Models, Animal MeSH
- Mice, Nude MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Cell Line, Tumor MeSH
- Pancreatic Neoplasms metabolism pathology MeSH
- Oxidation-Reduction MeSH
- Cell Proliferation drug effects MeSH
- Reactive Oxygen Species metabolism MeSH
- Plant Extracts pharmacology MeSH
- Spirulina * MeSH
- In Vitro Techniques MeSH
- Tetrapyrroles pharmacology MeSH
- Transplantation, Heterologous MeSH
- Cell Survival drug effects MeSH
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug MeSH
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Antineoplastic Agents MeSH
- Bilirubin MeSH
- Glutathione MeSH
- Reactive Oxygen Species MeSH
- Plant Extracts MeSH
- Tetrapyrroles MeSH
Spirulina platensis is a blue-green alga used as a dietary supplement because of its hypocholesterolemic properties. Among other bioactive substances, it is also rich in tetrapyrrolic compounds closely related to bilirubin molecule, a potent antioxidant and anti-proliferative agent. The aim of our study was to evaluate possible anticancer effects of S. platensis and S. platensis-derived tetrapyrroles using an experimental model of pancreatic cancer. The anti-proliferative effects of S. platensis and its tetrapyrrolic components [phycocyanobilin (PCB) and chlorophyllin, a surrogate molecule for chlorophyll A] were tested on several human pancreatic cancer cell lines and xenotransplanted nude mice. The effects of experimental therapeutics on mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and glutathione redox status were also evaluated. Compared to untreated cells, experimental therapeutics significantly decreased proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro in a dose-dependent manner (from 0.16 g•L-1 [S. platensis], 60 μM [PCB], and 125 μM [chlorophyllin], p<0.05). The anti-proliferative effects of S. platensis were also shown in vivo, where inhibition of pancreatic cancer growth was evidenced since the third day of treatment (p < 0.05). All tested compounds decreased generation of mitochondrial ROS and glutathione redox status (p = 0.0006; 0.016; and 0.006 for S. platensis, PCB, and chlorophyllin, respectively). In conclusion, S. platensis and its tetrapyrrolic components substantially decreased the proliferation of experimental pancreatic cancer. These data support a chemopreventive role of this edible alga. Furthermore, it seems that dietary supplementation with this alga might enhance systemic pool of tetrapyrroles, known to be higher in subjects with Gilbert syndrome.
Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology Institute of Chemical Technology Prague Czech Republic
Department of Pediatrics Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford CA USA
Institute of Biophysics 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague Czech Republic
Institute of Molecular Genetics Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Prague Czech Republic
Institute of Physiology Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Prague Czech Republic
Anti-angiogenic effects of the blue-green alga Arthrospira platensis on pancreatic cancer
Hyperbilirubinemia Protects against Aging-Associated Inflammation and Metabolic Deterioration
