Use Of C-Phycocyanin‎‎ To Reduce The Toxicity Of Arsenic On Rats

Abstract

Introduction: Arsenicis one of the heavy metals found in drinking water andone of the free radical generators. In comparison, the blue protein C-phycocyanin occupies a unique role among the many bioactive components of Spirulina due to its applications in the food industry and the treatment of some diseases.

Methods: Twenty male rats were used in the experiment, have been divided into four groups, one ‎group of five rats represented the control group. five rats were administered only sodium arsenite 6.3 mg/kg orally, while another five rats administered both ‎C-phycocyanin‎‎300 mg/kg and sodium arsenite at the same time; meanwhile, the ‎remaining group of five rats were fed ‎C-phycocyanin‎‎ only; after that, their hematological and biochemical parameters were examined.

Results: Our results have shown that C-phycocyanin‎‎ at a dosage of 300 mg/kg could ‎decrease ‎arsenic toxicity by reducing elevated ‎liver enzyme levels AST and ALT ‎and ‎reduction in endogenous antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT, and MDA. Furthermore, the ‎hematological results of rats fed with C-‎phycocyanin plus sodium arsenite investigateda staistiaticalimprovement in plateletsand elevated WBC levels,whilethe levels of‎hematocrit,hemoglobin and erythrocytesreveals asignificant improvement compared with groups that treated with only sodium arsenite.

Conclusion: It was concluded that arsenic-induced oxidative stress has been attenuated by C-‎phycocyanin. As a result, C-phycocyanin may be protecting the liver and the entire body from arsenic toxicity. ‎