title: Oral administration of an enzymatic protein hydrolysate from the green microalga Chlorella vulgaris enhances the nutritional recovery of malnourished mice.
abstract: This study examined the effects of oral administration of an enzymatic protein hydrolysate from green microalga Chlorella vulgaris (Cv-PH) on the nutritional recovery of malnourished Balb/c mice after a 3-day fasting period. Mice were refed with commercial diet supplemented or not supplemented with Cv-PH (500 mg/kg) for 8 days. Regardless of the diet used during refeeding, animal body weights and serum protein concentrations did not differ between groups. Mice given Cv-PH had a significant increase in hemoglobin concentrations. Most serum amino acid levels were similar in the control and Cv-PH animals. Starved mice refed with Cv-PH showed normal liver functions, as judged by liver weight, protein concentration, and the enzymatic activities of cholinesterase and arginase. Cv-PH increased DNA, protein content, and gut-mucosal weight. In addition, brush-border oligosaccharidase activities were also higher in the Cv-PH group. These findings suggest that Chlorella protein hydrolysate can be used to develop specific formulations suitable for pharmacologic nutrition.
authors.affiliation: Center for Studies on Industrial Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Oriente, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.
authors.forename: Humberto J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Olimpia V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Carrillo
authors.forename: María E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Rosa C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bermúdez
authors.forename: Ángel
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Almarales
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Llauradó
authors.forename: Yamila
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lebeque
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fontaine
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D048408:Chlorella vulgaris / Q000737:chemistry*; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D058086:Microalgae / Q000737:chemistry*; D011492:Protein Hydrolysates / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D001798:Blood Proteins; D011492:Protein Hydrolysates