title: Chemoprevention of rat liver toxicity and carcinogenesis by Spirulina.
abstract: Spirulina platensis (SP) is a filamentous cyanobacterium microalgae with potent dietary phyto-antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous properties. The present study aimed to investigate the chemopreventive effect of SP against rat liver toxicity and carcinogenesis induced by dibutyl nitrosamine (DBN) precursors, and further characterized its underlying mechanisms of action in HepG2 cell line. Investigation by light and electron microscopy showed that DBN treatment induced severe liver injury and histopathological abnormalities, which were prevented by SP supplementation. The incidence of liver tumors was significantly reduced from 80 to 20% by SP. Immunohistochemical results indicated that both PCNA and p53 were highly expressed in the liver of DBN-treated rats, but were significantly reduced by SP supplementation. Molecular analysis indicated that SP treatment inhibited cell proliferation, which was accompanied by increased p21 and decreased Rb expression levels at 48hrs post-treatment. In addition, SP increased Bax and decreased Bcl-2 expression, indicating induction of apoptosis by 48hrs. This is the first report of the in vivo chemopreventive effect of SP against DBN-induced rat liver cytotoxicity and carcinogenesis, suggesting its potential use in chemoprevention of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: Doaa A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Augusta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernando
authors.forename: Mohamed E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Abdraboh
authors.forename: Rajiv L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Gaur
authors.forename: Wael M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Madhwa H G
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.forename: Allal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ouhtit
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009602:Nitrosamines / Q000633:toxicity*; D019936:Probiotics; D051381:Rats; D053545:Spirulina / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D009602:Nitrosamines; C012279:dibutylnitrosamine