Title : Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) as a future functional food: Mitigating oxidative and apoptotic injury in doxorubicin-treated rats
Abstract:
Anthracycline agents such as doxorubicin are widely used in cancer therapy but are associated with severe oxidative and apoptotic damage in cardiac tissue. Identifying safe, accessible, and nutrition-based protective strategies is therefore a global health priority. Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis), a highly nutritious microalga recognized as a future sustainable food source, possesses potent antioxidant and cytoprotective properties. This study evaluated the therapeutic potential of Spirulina as a complementary dietary component for individuals exposed to anthracycline chemotherapy.
18 male rats were assigned to control, doxorubicin, Spirulina, and Spirulina + doxorubicin groups. Doxorubicin was administered at a cumulative dose of 15 mg/kg, delivered as six injections over two weeks. Spirulina was given at 1 g/kg/day, initiated on day 1 of the experiment and continued daily for 30 days, including the period of co-treatment with doxorubicin. Oxidative stress was assessed by quantifying Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), and reduced Glutathione (GSH) in cardiac tissue using ELIZA Method. apoptotic and inflammatory pathways were evaluated in cardiac tissue through real-time PCR analysis of BAX, BCL-2, Caspase-3, and TNF-α.
Doxorubicin caused a marked increase in oxidative stress, characterized by elevated MDA and significant suppression of SOD, CAT, and GSH. Spirulina co-administration significantly reduced MDA and restored SOD and CAT activities in cardiac tissue, although GSH levels remained unchanged. Gene expression analysis showed that Spirulina effectively counteracted doxorubicin-induced apoptosis, evidenced by downregulation of BAX, Caspase-3, and TNF-α, alongside a robust upregulation of the anti-apoptotic gene BCL-2.
Spirulina provides substantial antioxidant and anti-apoptotic protection of cardiac tissue against doxorubicin-induced toxicity in rats. These findings highlight its potential as an innovative, sustainable, and biologically active food supplement for populations undergoing anthracycline-based cancer therapy. Spirulina may therefore represent a promising future nutritional intervention to reduce chemotherapy-related oxidative injury and enhance cellular resilience.
