title: Well-tolerated Spirulina extract inhibits influenza virus replication and reduces virus-induced mortality.
abstract: Influenza is one of the most common human respiratory diseases, and represents a serious public health concern. However, the high mutability of influenza viruses has hampered vaccine development, and resistant strains to existing anti-viral drugs have also emerged. Novel anti-influenza therapies are urgently needed, and in this study, we describe the anti-viral properties of a Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) cold water extract. Anti-viral effects have previously been reported for extracts and specific substances derived from Spirulina, and here we show that this Spirulina cold water extract has low cellular toxicity, and is well-tolerated in animal models at one dose as high as 5,000 mg/kg, or 3,000 mg/kg/day for 14 successive days. Anti-flu efficacy studies revealed that the Spirulina extract inhibited viral plaque formation in a broad range of influenza viruses, including oseltamivir-resistant strains. Spirulina extract was found to act at an early stage of infection to reduce virus yields in cells and improve survival in influenza-infected mice, with inhibition of influenza hemagglutination identified as one of the mechanisms involved. Together, these results suggest that the cold water extract of Spirulina might serve as a safe and effective therapeutic agent to manage influenza outbreaks, and further clinical investigation may be warranted.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Emerging Viral Infections,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.|Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yi-Hsiang
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Emerging Viral Infections,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Gi-Kung
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Emerging Viral Infections,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Shu-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Emerging Viral Infections,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.|Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Sheng-Yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: I-Chen
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Emerging Viral Infections,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yu-Lun
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Emerging Viral Infections,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.|Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.|Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.|Clinical Virology Lab, Department of Clinical Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Shin-Ru
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Shih
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004285:Dogs; D061985:Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells; D051379:Mice; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000187:drug effects*; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D053545:Spirulina / Q000737:chemistry*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents