title: Antioxidant properties of a novel phycocyanin extract from the blue-green alga Aphanizomenon flos-aquae.
abstract: Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) is a fresh water unicellular blue-green alga (cyanophyta) rich in phycocyanin (PC), a photosynthetic pigment with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of a novel natural extract from AFA enriched with PC to protect normal human erythrocytes and plasma samples against oxidative damage in vitro. In red blood cells, oxidative hemolysis and lipid peroxidation induced by the aqueous peroxyl radical generator [2,2'-Azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride, AAPH] were significantly lowered by the AFA extract in a time- and dose-dependent manner; at the same time, the depletion of cytosolic glutathione was delayed. In plasma samples, the natural extract inhibited the extent of lipid oxidation induced by the pro-oxidant agent cupric chloride (CuCl2); a concomitant increase of plasma resistance to oxidation was observed as evaluated by conjugated diene formation. The involvement of PC in the antioxidant protection of the AFA extract against the oxidative damage was demonstrated by investigating the spectral changes of PC induced by AAPH or CuCl2. The incubation of the extract with the oxidizing agents led to a significant decrease in the absorption of PC at 620 nm accompanied with disappearance of its blue color, thus indicating a rapid oxidation of the protein. In the light of these in vitro results, the potential clinical applications of this natural compound are under investigation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Histology, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Zeppi- 61029 (PU), Italy. s.benedetti@uniurb.it
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benedetti
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Benvenuti
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pagliarani
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Francogli
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scoglio
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Canestrari
mesh_terms: D000578:Amidines / Q000737:chemistry; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D016877:Oxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010798:Phycocyanin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000578:Amidines; D000975:Antioxidants; D016877:Oxidants; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D010798:Phycocyanin; C046728:2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane); D003300:Copper; D005978:Glutathione; C029892:cupric chloride