title: The study of biochemical and histopathological effects of spirulina in rats with TNBS-induced colitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the beneficial effects of spirulina on the treatment of experimental colitis.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Spirulina, a planktonic blue green algae from oascillateriaceae family, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, anti-viral, and antimicrobial effects, rendering it a natural drug of prophylactic and therapeutic properties. The effects of spirulina on colitis are not known.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar rats weighing 200-300 g were used. Experimental colitis was created during anesthesia using the trinitrobenzene sulfonic (TNBS) acid. The rats were randomly divided into the 3 groups. In the group 1 (sham; n = 8), saline was administered via oral gavage 7 days after 1 ml of rectal saline was administered. In the group 2 (experimental colitis + spirulina; n = 8), 2 g/kg spirulina was administered via oral gavage 7 days after the rectal 1 ml TNBS was administered. In group 3 (experimental colitis; n = 8), enema was administered via oral gavage 7 days after the rectal 1 ml TNBS was administered. Eight days after the instigation of TNBS colitis, the rats were sacrificed and blood and tissue samples were taken. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical evaluations were conducted, and malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), catalase (CAT), total antioxidant status (TAS), and glutathione (GSH) levels were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inflammation on mucosa and submucosa, hemorrhage, necrosis, cellular infiltration and crypt abscess formation, immunoreactivity and tissue MDA levels were decreased in the experimental colitis + spirulina group when compared to the experimental colitis group (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study indicate the beneficial effects of spirulina on TNBS-induced inflammatory bowel disease (Tab. 6, Fig. 10, Ref. 40).
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. zkcoskun@gazi.edu.tr
authors.forename: Z K
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kerem
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gurbuz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Omeroglu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pasaoglu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Demirtas
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lortlar
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Salman
authors.forename: O T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Pasaoglu
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Turgut
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D053545:Spirulina; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid