Neuroprotective Potential of Spirulina Platensis Against Aluminium Chloride-Induced Neural Degeneration

Abstract

Free radicals are involved in neurodegenerative disorders such as ischemia and aging. Treatments with Spirulina have been shown to reduce neurodegenerative changes in animals. The present study has been designed to examine the potential neuroprotective effects of Spirulina platensis (Sp.) against AlCl3-induced neurotoxicity in different regions of brain (cerebral cortex, hippocampus and hind brain) of rats. AlCl3 caused significant increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, tumor necrosis factor-a and aluminium concentration, while decrease glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GST and GPx), total thiol content, monoamine oxidase, Na+-K+ ATPase and total ATPase. These results were confifirmed by histopathological and fluorescence examination of different regions of brain. Cerebral cortex and hippocampus of AlCl3 showed loss of normal structure, neuronal degeneration and increase in the number of neurodegenerative features, more illuminated aggregates, higher fluorescence emission intensity in the presence of amyloid protein fifibrils. While, the presence of Spirulina with AlCl3 in the combination group exhibited more normal neurons with few pyknotic nuclei and residual fine vacuolations and reduction in the number of illuminate aggregates. Collectively, Spirulina platensis supplementation could overcome AlCl3-induced neurodegenerative disorder by abolishing oxidative tissue injuries.