Health Protective Actions of Phycocyanin Obtained from an Egyptian Isolate of Spirulina platensis on Albino Rats

Background: The objective of the present study was to investigate the potential hepatoprotective of phycocyanin as a natural source for antioxidant against oxidative stress induced artificially by CCl4 liver injury in Wister rats. Material and Methods: The antioxidant activity of phycocyanin isolated from Spirulina platensis was evaluated in vitro by using DPPH assay. Also, hepatoprotective effect of phycocyanin at different levels (100, 150 and 200 mg/kg body weight) was evaluated in Wistar Albino rats against carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury. Results: The hepatoprotective effect was estimated using several biochemical parameters and histopathological examination. Spirulina platensis phycocyanin, applied at different levels, could counteract the major rises in the levels of serum ALT, AST, urea and creatinine, total lipid and triglycerides, induced by subjecting Albino rats to CCl4 intoxication.  It could also moderate the reducing action of CCl4 exerted on the levels of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione-S-transferase, superoxide dismutase and catalase). The negative control group showed a normal histological structure of the portal area, central veins and surrounding hepatocytes. Focal necrosis with inflammatory cells infiltration was detected in the hepatic parenchyma as associated with dilatation in the portal vein and inflammatory cells infiltration in the portal area of the positive control. The histopathological sections of the CCl4-stressed animals receiving phycocyanin at different concentrations were approaching the status of the negative control. Conclusions: Phycocyanin can be recommended for food and health applications aiming at lowering potential oxidative stress.