Arthrospira platensis, a blue-green alga, is a popular nutraceutical substance having potent antioxidant properties with potential anti-carcinogenic activities. The aim of our study was to assess the possible anti-angiogenic effects of A platensis in an experimental model of pancreatic cancer. The effects of an A platensis extract were investigated on human pancreatic cancer cells (PA-TU-8902) and immortalized endothelial-like cells (Ea.hy926). PA-TU-8902 pancreatic tumours xenografted to athymic mice were also examined. In vitro migration and invasiveness assays were performed on the tested cells. Multiple angiogenic factors and signalling pathways were analysed in the epithelial, endothelial and cancer cells, and tumour tissue. The A platensis extract exerted inhibitory effects on both migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer as well as endothelial-like cells. Tumours of mice treated with A platensis exhibited much lesser degrees of vascularization as measured by CD31 immunostaining (P = .004). Surprisingly, the VEGF-A mRNA and protein expressions were up-regulated in pancreatic cancer cells. A platensis inhibited ERK activation upstream of Raf and suppressed the expression of ERK-regulated proteins. Treatment of pancreatic cancer with A platensis was associated with suppressive effects on migration and invasiveness with various anti-angiogenic features, which might account for the anticancer effects of this blue-green alga.
- MeSH
- antioxidancia farmakologie MeSH
- antitumorózní látky farmakologie MeSH
- endoteliální buňky účinky léků MeSH
- inhibitory angiogeneze farmakologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- myši nahé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
- nádory slinivky břišní farmakoterapie MeSH
- patologická angiogeneze farmakoterapie MeSH
- pohyb buněk účinky léků MeSH
- signální transdukce účinky léků MeSH
- Spirulina chemie MeSH
- upregulace účinky léků MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
In this study, 14 commercial products (dietary supplements) containing alga Chlorella vulgaris and cyanobacteria Spirulina platensis, originated from China and Japan, were analysed. UV-vis spectrophotometric method was applied for rapid determination of chlorophylls, carotenoids and pheophytins; as degradation products of chlorophylls. High Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) was used for effective separation of these compounds, and also Atomic Absorption Spectrometry for determination of heavy metals as indicator of environmental pollution. Based on the results obtained from UV-vis spectrophotometric determination of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids), it was confirmed that Chlorella vulgaris contains more of all these pigments compared to the cyanobacteria Spirulina platensis. The fastest mobility compound identified in Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis using HPTLC method was β-carotene. Spectral analysis and standard calibration curve method were used for identification and quantification of separated substances on Thin-Layer Chromatographic plate. Quantification of copper (Cu2+, at 324.7 nm) and zinc (Zn2+, at 213.9nm) was performed using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry with air-acetylene flame atomization. Quantification of cadmium (Cd2+, at 228.8 nm), nickel (Ni2+, at 232.0nm) and lead (Pb2+, at 283.3nm) by Electrothermal Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry; and quantification of mercury (Hg2+, at 254nm) by Cold Vapour Atomic Absorption Spectrometry.
- MeSH
- Chlorella vulgaris chemie MeSH
- chlorofyl chemie MeSH
- chromatografie na tenké vrstvě metody MeSH
- karotenoidy chemie MeSH
- potravní doplňky analýza MeSH
- spektrofotometrie atomová metody MeSH
- Spirulina chemie MeSH
- těžké kovy chemie MeSH
- vysokoúčinná kapalinová chromatografie metody MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Čína MeSH
- Japonsko MeSH
Zelené potraviny jsou řasy, bakterie a trávy s vysokým obsahem mikroživin a bílkovin. Ve sdělovacích prostředcích a propagačních materiálech jsou označovány jako superpotraviny a mají být prevencí i terapií mnoha zdravotních potíží včetně těch nejzávažnějších. Pojem zelené potraviny a superpotraviny není jednoznačně odborně vymezen. Studií, které sledují nejrůznější dílčí efekty působení zelených potravin, je dostatek. Většinou se však jedná o laboratorní práce bez potvrzení účinků v rozsáhlých klinických humánních studiích. O to více zpráv o zázračném působení zelených potravin koluje v populárních médiích a na sítích. Obsah živin v relaci k množství zelených potravin, které je reálné konzumovat, není až tak výjimečný. I přes vysoký obsah mnoha živin je proto konečný efekt užívání doplňků zelených potravin pochybný, a to zejména ve vztahu k jejich poměrně vysoké ceně. Je navíc možné zajistit mnohé z živin běžnějšími a chuťově přijatelnějšími potravinami, které jsou cenově dostupnější.
Green foods include algae, bacteria, and grass with a high content of micronutrients and proteins. In the media and promotional messages, green foods are classified as superfoods and recommended for the prevention and treatment of numerous health problems, including the most serious ones. However, the term green foods or superfoods is not clearly defined in the literature. There is a sufficient number of studies which examine various partial effects of green foods. Yet, they are predominantly laboratory experiments the conclusions of which have not been properly validated in extensive clinical studies on human subjects. This undesirable situation is then reflected in popular media and on social networks which are flooded with news about the miraculous effects of these foods. The nutrient content in relation to the amount of green foods that can be routinely consumed is, however, not so special. As a result, despite high levels of many nutrients, the ultimate effect of taking green foods in the form of dietary supplements is dubious, especially in view of their relatively high cost and in view of other common, affordable, and tastier sources of the same nutrients.
Spirulina is a species of filamentous cyanobacteria that has long been used as a food supplement. In particular, Spirulina platensis and Spirulina maxima are the most important. Thanks to a high protein and vitamin content, Spirulina is used as a nutraceutical food supplement, although its other potential health benefits have attracted much attention. Oxidative stress and dysfunctional immunity cause many diseases in humans, including atherosclerosis, cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, and hypertension. Thus, the antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory activities of these microalgae may play an important role in human health. Here, we discuss the antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory activities of Spirulina in both animals and humans, along with the underlying mechanisms. In addition, its commercial and regulatory status in different countries is discussed as well. Spirulina activates cellular antioxidant enzymes, inhibits lipid peroxidation and DNA damage, scavenges free radicals, and increases the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase. Notably, there appears to be a threshold level above which Spirulina will taper off the antioxidant activity. Clinical trials show that Spirulina prevents skeletal muscle damage under conditions of exercise-induced oxidative stress and can stimulate the production of antibodies and up- or downregulate the expression of cytokine-encoding genes to induce immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory responses. The molecular mechanism(s) by which Spirulina induces these activities is unclear, but phycocyanin and β-carotene are important molecules. Moreover, Spirulina effectively regulates the ERK1/2, JNK, p38, and IκB pathways. This review provides new insight into the potential therapeutic applications of Spirulina and may provide new ideas for future studies.
- MeSH
- antiflogistika izolace a purifikace farmakologie terapeutické užití MeSH
- antioxidancia izolace a purifikace farmakologie terapeutické užití MeSH
- imunologické faktory izolace a purifikace farmakologie terapeutické užití MeSH
- klinické zkoušky jako téma MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- oxidační stres účinky léků MeSH
- peroxidace lipidů účinky léků MeSH
- potravní doplňky MeSH
- Spirulina chemie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
Spirulina platensis, a water blue-green alga, has been associated with potent biological effects, which might have important relevance in atheroprotection. We investigated whether S. platensis or phycocyanobilin (PCB), its tetrapyrrolic chromophore, can activate atheroprotective heme oxygenase-1 (Hmox1), a key enzyme in the heme catabolic pathway responsible for generation of a potent antioxidant bilirubin, in endothelial cells and in a mouse model of atherosclerosis. In vitro experiments were performed on EA.hy926 endothelial cells exposed to extracts of S. platensis or PCB. In vivo studies were performed on ApoE-deficient mice fed a cholesterol diet and S. platensis. The effect of these treatments on Hmox1, as well as other markers of oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction, was then investigated. Both S. platensis and PCB markedly upregulated Hmox1 in vitro, and a substantial overexpression of Hmox1 was found in aortic atherosclerotic lesions of ApoE-deficient mice fed S. platensis. In addition, S. platensis treatment led to a significant increase in Hmox1 promoter activity in the spleens of Hmox-luc transgenic mice. Furthermore, both S. platensis and PCB were able to modulate important markers of oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction, such as eNOS, p22 NADPH oxidase subunit, and/or VCAM-1. Both S. platensis and PCB activate atheroprotective HMOX1 in endothelial cells and S. platensis increased the expression of Hmox1 in aortic atherosclerotic lesions in ApoE-deficient mice, and also in Hmox-luc transgenic mice beyond the lipid lowering effect. Therefore, activation of HMOX1 and the heme catabolic pathway may represent an important mechanism of this food supplement for the reduction of atherosclerotic disease.
- MeSH
- aorta účinky léků enzymologie MeSH
- ateroskleróza farmakoterapie enzymologie prevence a kontrola MeSH
- cévní buněčněadhezivní molekula-1 genetika metabolismus MeSH
- fykobiliny aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- fykokyanin aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- hemoxygenasa-1 genetika metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
- myši transgenní MeSH
- myši MeSH
- NADPH-oxidasy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- oxidační stres účinky léků MeSH
- Spirulina chemie MeSH
- upregulace účinky léků MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- myši MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Enhancement of the immune response leading to protection against bacterial and fungal infections was shown using different schedules of immunization with microbial pigments and a polysaccharide. The group of mice given carotenoids of Rhodotorula glutinis (preparation I) and polysaccharide of Spitulina platensis (IV) survived for 2 weeks after Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. The groups of mice given carotenoids (I), polysaccharide (IV), I+IV and with the crude phycocyanin of S. platensis (III)+IV survived for 2 weeks after Candida albicans infection. All other groups recorded a maximum level of mortality reaching 2 mice per group either after immunization or post-infection. Adding the carotenoids, phycocyanin and polysaccharides to food as additives might therefore enhance the human immune response against microbial infections.
- MeSH
- analýza přežití MeSH
- Candida albicans imunologie MeSH
- časové faktory MeSH
- imunologické faktory aplikace a dávkování izolace a purifikace MeSH
- kandidóza imunologie prevence a kontrola MeSH
- karotenoidy farmakologie izolace a purifikace MeSH
- myši MeSH
- pseudomonádové infekce imunologie prevence a kontrola MeSH
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa imunologie MeSH
- Rhodotorula chemie MeSH
- Spirulina chemie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- myši MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
