Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of C-phycocyanin from blue-green algae.
OBJECTIVE
Phycocyanin is a pigment found in blue-green algae which contains open chain tetrapyrroles with possible scavenging properties. We have studied its antioxidant properties.


METHODS
Phycocyanin was evaluated as a putative antioxidant in vitro by using: a) luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (LCL) generated by three different radical species (O2-, OH., RO.) and by zymosan activated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs), b) deoxyribose assay and c) inhibition of liver microsomal lipid peroxidation induced by Fe+2-ascorbic acid. The antioxidant activity was also assayed in vivo in glucose oxidase (GO)-induced inflammation in mouse paw.


RESULTS
The results indicated that phycocyanin is able to scavenge OH. (IC50 = 0.91 mg/mL) and RO. (IC50 = 76 microg/mL) radicals, with activity equivalent to 0.125 mg/mL of dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and 0.038 microg/mL of trolox, specific scavengers of those radicals respectively. In the deoxyribose assay the second-order rate constant was 3.56 x 10(11) M(-1) S(-1), similar to that obtained for some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Phycocyanin also inhibits liver microsomal lipid peroxidation (IC50 = 12 mg/mL), the CL response of PMNLs (p < 0.05) as well as the edema index in GO-induced inflammation in mouse paw (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge this is the first report of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of c-phycocyanin.
Romay
C
C
Pharmacology Department, National Center for Scientific Research, CNIC, Havana, Cuba. ricardo@quimica.cneuro.cu
Armesto
J
J
Remirez
D
D
González
R
R
Ledon
N
N
García
I
I
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000737:chemistry*; D003855:Deoxyribose / Q000378:metabolism; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals; D005949:Glucose Oxidase; D006801:Humans; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism; D010798:Phycocyanin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015054:Zymosan / Q000494:pharmacology
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals; D010798:Phycocyanin; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D003855:Deoxyribose; D015054:Zymosan; D005949:Glucose Oxidase