title: Protective effects of Spirulina maxima on hyperlipidemia and oxidative-stress induced by lead acetate in the liver and kidney.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oxidative damage has been proposed as a possible mechanism involved in lead toxicity, specially affecting the liver and kidney. Previous studies have shown the antioxidant effect of Spirulina maxima in several experimental models of oxidative stress. The current study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant activity of Spirulina maxima against lead acetate-induced hyperlipidemia and oxidative damage in the liver and kidney of male rats. Control animals were fed on a standard diet and did not receive lead acetate (Control group). Experimental animals were fed on a standard laboratory diet with or without Spirulina maxima 5% in the standard laboratory diet and treated with three doses of lead acetate (25 mg each/weekly, intraperitoneal injection) (lead acetate with Spirulina, and lead acetate without Spirulina groups).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that Spirulina maxima prevented the lead acetate-induced significant changes on plasma and liver lipid levels and on the antioxidant status of the liver and kidney. On the other hand, Spirulina maxima succeeded to improve the biochemical parameters of the liver and kidney towards the normal values of the Control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that Spirulina maxima has protective effects on lead acetate-induced damage, and that the effects are associated with the antioxidant effect of Spirulina.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, D.F., México.
authors.forename: Johny C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ponce-Canchihuamán
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pérez-Méndez
authors.forename: Rolando
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hernández-Muñoz
authors.forename: Patricia V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Torres-Durán
authors.forename: Marco A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Juárez-Oropeza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000517:prevention & control; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000633:toxicity; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020011:Protective Agents; D051381:Rats; D053545:Spirulina; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D020011:Protective Agents; C008261:lead acetate