title: Antioxidant and angiostatic effect of Spirulina platensis suspension in complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Currently, natural products have built a well-recognized role in the management of many degenerative diseases, mainly rheumatoid arthritis. Recent studies suggest that Spirulina, a unicellular blue-green alga, may have a variety of health benefits and curative properties and is also competent of acting as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and recently anti-angiogenic agent. In the present study, the antioxidant and the immunomodulatory effect of Spirulina platensis as well as its anti-angiogenic effect against complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in rat model were tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the development of arthritis was concealed; moreover it successfully inhibited the development of macroscopic as well as microscopic and histopathological lesions in AIA rats when compared to control. Spirulina treated group showed a higher survival rate and moreover, it reduced the clinical score of RA in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, Spirulina decreased serum levels of COX-2, TNF-α, IL-6, TBARS, VEGF and increased serum levels of GSH compared to the RA non-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study concluded that Spirulina is able to restrain the changes produced through adjuvant-induced arthritis. The suppressing effect of Spirulina could be attributed, at least in part, to anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-angiogenic properties.
authors: Department of Histology & Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors: Eman A I
authors: EA
authors: Ali
authors: Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Bassant M
authors: BM
authors: Barakat
authors: Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors: Ranya
authors: R
authors: Hassan
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001682:Biological Availability; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects*; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D053545:Spirulina / Q000502:physiology*; D013535:Suspensions; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000975:Antioxidants; D015850:Interleukin-6; D013535:Suspensions; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant