Antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective effects of whey protein and Spirulina in rats.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of the present study were to evaluate the antioxidant, radical scavenging, and metal-chelating activity of whey protein concentrate (WPC) and Spirulina alone or in combination in vitro and to evaluate their hepatoprotective effects against CCl(4) in vivo.


METHODS
Five concentrations (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mg/100 mL) of WPC, Spirulina, and their combination were tested in vitro. In the in vivo study, eight groups of male rats comprised the control group and the groups treated with WPC, Spirulina alone, or in combination with or without CCl(4) were used.


RESULTS
The in vitro study showed that WPC and Spirulina showed antioxidant, radical scavenging, and metal-chelating activities in dose-dependent manner. The in vivo study showed that both agents succeeded in preventing liver damage induced by CCl(4). This prevention was more pronounced in rats receiving the combination of WPC and Spirulina.


CONCLUSIONS
Whey protein concentrate and Spirulina have free radical scavenging properties and antioxidant activity.
Gad
Ahmed S
AS
Dairy Science Department, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.
Khadrawy
Yasser A
YA
El-Nekeety
Aziza A
AA
Mohamed
Sherif R
SR
Hassan
Nabila S
NS
Abdel-Wahhab
Mosaad A
MA
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D007501:Iron; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D053545:Spirulina; D000067816:Whey Proteins
D000975:Antioxidants; D002614:Chelating Agents; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D008894:Milk Proteins; D000067816:Whey Proteins; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D007501:Iron