abstract
Lead is a toxic metal that induces a wide range of behavioral, biochemical and physiological effects in
humans. Oxidative damage has been proposed as a possible mechanism involved in lead toxicity. The
current study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant activities of Spirulina supplement against lead
acetate -induced hepatic injury in rats. Five groups of rats were used in this study, Control, Lead acetate
(100 mg/kg), Lead acetate (100 mg/kg) þ 0.5 g/kg Spirulina, Lead acetate (100 mg/kg) þ 1 g/kg Spirulina
and Lead acetate þ 25 mg/100 g Vitamin C (reference drug). All experimental groups received the oral
treatment by stomach tube once daily for 4 weeks. Lead intoxication resulted in a significant increase in
serum alanine transaminae (ALT), aspartate transaminae (AST) activities, liver homogenate tumor necrosis
factor-a (TNF-a), caspase-3, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) levels and a significant
decline of total serum protein, liver homogenate reduced glutathione (GSH) level and superoxide dismutase
(SOD) activity. Both doses of Spirulina supplement as well as Vitamin C succeeded to improve the
biochemical parameters of serum and liver and prevented the lead acetate-induced significant changes
on plasma and antioxidant status of the liver. Both doses of Spirulina supplement had the same antiapoptotic
activity and high dose exhibited more antioxidant activity than that of low dose. In conclusion,
the results of the present work revealed that Spirulina supplement had protective, antioxidant and
anti-apoptotic effects on lead acetate-induced hepatic damage.
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