Prophylactic role of phycocyanin: a study of oxalate mediated renal cell injury.
Oxalate induced renal calculi formation and the associated renal injury is thought to be caused by free radical mediated mechanisms. An in vivo model was used to investigate the effect of phycocyanin (from Spirulina platensis), a known antioxidant, against calcium oxalate urolithiasis. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups. Hyperoxaluria was induced in two of these groups by intraperitoneal infusion of sodium oxalate (70 mg/kg) and a pretreatment of phycocyanin (100 mg/kg) as a single oral dosage was given, 1h prior to sodium oxalate infusion. An untreated control and drug control (phycocyanin alone) were also included in the study. We observed that phycocyanin significantly controlled the early biochemical changes in calcium oxalate stone formation. The antiurolithic nature of the drug was evaluated by the assessment of urinary risk factors and light microscopic observation of urinary crystals. Renal tubular damage as divulged by urinary marker enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase) and histopathological observations such as decreased tubulointerstitial, tubular dilatation and mononuclear inflammatory cells, indicated that renal damage was minimised in drug-pretreated group. Oxalate levels (P < 0.001) and lipid peroxidation (P < 0.001) in kidney tissue were significantly controlled by drug pretreatment, suggesting the ability of phycocyanin to quench the free radicals, thereby preventing the lipid peroxidation mediated tissue damage and oxalate entry. This accounts for the prevention of CaOx stones. Thus, the present analysis revealed the antioxidant and antiurolithic potential of phycocyanin thereby projecting it as a promising therapeutic agent against renal cell injury associated kidney stone formation.
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Dr. ALM Postgraduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, Chennai 600113, India.
Shukkur Muhammed
SM
Farooq
Devarajan
D
Asokan
Periandavan
P
Kalaiselvi
Ramasamy
R
Sakthivel
Palaninathan
P
Varalakshmi
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000652:urine; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000652:urine; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006959:Hyperoxaluria / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010070:Oxalates / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D010798:Phycocyanin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D053545:Spirulina; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000652:urine
D000975:Antioxidants; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D010070:Oxalates; D010798:Phycocyanin; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase