C-Phycocyanin-a novel protein from Spirulina platensis- In vivo toxicity, antioxidant and immunomodulatory studies

A pigment-protein highly dominant in Spirulina is known as C-Phycocyanin. Earlier, in vitro studies has shown that C-phycocyanin is having many biological activities like antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, antiplatelet, hepatoprotective, and cholesterol-lowering properties. Interestingly, there are scanty in vivo experimental findings on the immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects of C-phycocyanin. This work is aimed at in vivo evaluation of the effects of C-phycocyanin on immunomodulation and antioxidant potential in Balb/c mice. Our results of in vivo toxicity, immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects of C-Phycocyanin suggests that C-phycocyanin is very safe for consumption and having substantial antioxidant potential and also possess immunomodulatory activities in Balb/c mice in a dosage dependent manner. C-phycocyanin doesn't cause acute and subacute toxicity in the animal model (male, Balb/c mice) studied. We have reported that C-phycocyanin exhibited in vivo immunomodulation performance in this animal model.

Antioxidant; C-Phycocyanin; EDTA, Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; GM-CSF, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor; IFN-γ, interferon γ; IL10, Interlukin 10; IL12, Interlukin 12; IL13, Interlukin 13; IL1α, Interlukin 1α; IL1β, Interlukin 1 β; IL2, Interlukin 2; IL4, Interlukin 4; IL6, Interlukin 6; Immunomodulatory activities; In Vivo-toxicity; SOD, Superoxide Dismutase; TNFα, Tumor Necrosis Factor α.