Inhibitory effects of Spirulina in zymosan-induced arthritis in mice

• Published in: Mediators of Inflammation Vol. 2002; no. 2; pp. 75 - 79
• Main Authors: Remirez, Diadelis, González, Ricardo, Merino, Nelson, Rodriguez, Sandra, Ancheta, Odelsa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Hindawi Limiteds 01.04.2002; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - therapeutic use; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; Arthritis - chemically induced; Arthritis - drug therapy; Arthritis - pathology; Bacterial Proteins - therapeutic use; Cartilage - ultrastructure; Female; Mice; Spirulina; Zymosan - toxicity; Zymosan; Spirulina; Mice; Arthritis; Anti-inflammatory
• ISSN: 0962-9351; 1466-1861
• DOI: 10.1080/09629350220131917

THE anti-inflammatory effect of microalgae Spirulina was studied in zymosan-induced arthritis in mice. Four days after the intra-articular injection of zymosan (15mg/ml), Spirulina (100 and 400mg/kg perorally) was administered to animals for 8 days. The mice were than killed and β-glucuronidase was measured in the synovial fluid. Each knee joint was totally removed for histopathological studies. Spirulina significantly reduced the levels of β-glucuronidase that had been increased by zymosan. Histopathological and ultrastructural studies showed inhibition of the inflammatory reaction, whereas no destruction of cartilage, well-preserved chondrocytes, and normal rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria were seen. The anti-arthritic effect exerted by Spirulina as shown in this model may be at least partly due to the previously reported anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties of its constituent, phycocyanin. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the anti-inflammatory effect of Spirulina in an experimental model of arthritis.