Evaluation of the antioxidant activities of Spirulina platensis in brain of streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats

Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion and insulin action or both. The chronic hyperglycemia is associated with long-term damage, dysfunction, and failure of normal functioning of various organs, especially the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels. Oxidative stress plays acentral role in diabetic tissue damage. Anti-hyperglycemic and antioxidant activities have been recorded with numerous plants,many of which are used as traditional herbal treatments of diabetes.Spirulinais a microscopic single cell alga which grows in fresh water and contains various antioxidants, especially phycocyanin. The aim of present investigation was to evaluate the antioxidant activities of Spirulina platensis in kidney of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.Materials Methods: 28 male Wistar rats (Weight: 250 ± 20 g) were divided into four groups (n=7), 1: control, 2: Spirulina, 3: Diabetes mellitus (STZ: 45 mg.kg-1 BW,IP) and 4: Diabetes mellitus + Spirulina. Spirulina concentrate was administered orally (14 mg.kg-1 BW/ day). At the end of the study (60 days) rats were euthanized thereafter kidneyspecimen were collected and homogenized for evaluation of biochemical parameters such as Malondialdehyde (MDA), FRAP and thiol group. Results Conclusion: Based on the present results,levels of MDA were observed to be significantly increased in diabetic rats, when compared with control rats(p 0.05).The kidney MDA concentration was decreased significantly following spirulina supplementation in groups received spirulinaas compared to the diabetic rats(p 0.05). FRAP values in kidney showed significant increment in groups received spirulina as compared to diabetic rats (p 0.05).In conclusion, our findings showed that Spirulina markedly reduced associated oxidative complications in STZ-induced diabetic rats.,