title: Comparative evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of carotenoids of microalgae.
abstract: The present study deals with evaluation of the hepatotoprotective activity of carotenoids from two well-known microalgae, Spirulina platensis and Dunaliella salina. Carotenoids were extracted in hexane:isopropyl alcohol (1:1 vol/vol) and fed orally in olive oil to Wistar albino rats at a dose of 100 microg/kg of body weight/day (in terms of carotenoids). The degree of hepatoprotection was measured by estimation of biochemical parameters like serum transaminases [serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT)], serum alkaline phosphatase, total albumin, and total protein. The results were compared with those for a control group, a CCl4-induced hepatic damage group, and a group treated with synthetic beta-carotene (all-trans) at the same dose. The protein content of the CCl4-treated group, which received normal diet and a dose of toxin, showed a significant decrease, i.e., 3.92 mg/mL, whereas the protein levels were higher, i.e., 6.96 and 6.32 mg/mL, in the case of the Dunaliella and Spirulina, respectively, carotenoid-treated groups. The CCl4-treated group shown higher activity of transaminases (128.68 units/mL SGPT and 171.52 units/mL SGOT). However, the activity of SGPT was 62.83 units/mL for Dunaliella and 76.83 units/mL for Spirulina, i.e., carotenoids of Dunaliella showed a higher degree of protection. For serum alkaline phosphatase, the standard beta-carotene value was 81.52 units/mL, compared with 84.46 units/mL for the CCl4-treated group; however, natural algal carotenoids yielded 38.45 units/mL (D. salina) and 44.73 units/mL (Spirulina). The total albumin value diminished with CCl4 treatment (2.46 mg/mL); the effect was highest for Dunaliella, followed by the Spirulina carotenoid-treated group. The results clearly indicate that carotenoids from Dunaliella possess better hepatoprotection compared with those from Spirulina. High-performance liquid chromatography of the carotenoids indicated that Spirulina contains only beta-carotene and Dunaliella contains other carotenoids and xanthophyll. The increase in protection with Dunaliella indicates that mixed carotenoids exhibit better biological activity than beta-carotene alone. The results of this study indicate that carotenoids obtained from an algal source have a higher antihepatotoxic effect, compared with synthetic beta-carotene and with beta-carotene alone from a natural source.
authors.affiliation: Plant Cell Biotechnology Department, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: K N Chidambara
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Murthy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rajesha
authors.forename: M Mahadeva
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Swamy
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ravishankar
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D053545:Spirulina; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000032:analysis; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001798:Blood Proteins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D024341:Xanthophylls; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase