In vitro and in vivo hypolipidemic properties of the aqueous extract of Spirulina platensis, cultivated in colored flasks under artificial illumination

Mahmoud A Al-Saman; Nada M Doleib; Mohamed R Ibrahim; Mohamed Y Nasr; Ahmed A Tayel; Ragaa A Hamouda

doi:10.7717/peerj.10366

In vitro and in vivo hypolipidemic properties of the aqueous extract of Spirulina platensis, cultivated in colored flasks under artificial illumination

PeerJ. 2020 Dec 1:8:e10366. doi: 10.7717/peerj.10366. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Mahmoud A Al-Saman¹, Nada M Doleib^{2

3}, Mohamed R Ibrahim¹, Mohamed Y Nasr⁴, Ahmed A Tayel⁵, Ragaa A Hamouda^{2

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Industrial Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt.
² Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Arts Khulais, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Applied and Industrial Science, University of Bahri, Khartoum, Sudan.
⁴ Department of Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt.
⁵ Faculty of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt.
⁶ Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt.

Abstract

Background: Spirulina is blue-green algae that grows mainly in tropical and subtropical lakes and is commonly used due to its nutritional features including high concentrations of protein, vitamins, mineral salts, carotenoids and antioxidants. This study aimed to investigate the anti-hypercholesterolemic potential of aqueous extract of Spirulina platensis cultivated in different colored flasks under artificial illumination; in vitro and in the diet induced hypercholesterolemic Swiss albino mice.

Methods: Spirulina platensis was cultivated in red, blue, green and colorless Erlenmeyer flasks containing Zarrouk's medium under aerobic conditions, with incessant illumination by artificial cool white fluorescent with light intensity of 2500 lux (35 µmol photon m^-2 s^-1). Chlorophyll a and total carotenoid contents were estimated using colorimetric methods, fatty acids composition was determined by GC-Mass, in vitro and in vivo anti-cholesterol assays were used in assessing the anti-hypercholesterolemia potential of obtained Spirulina cells.

Results: The results showed that the highest cell dry weight, chlorophyl a, and carotenoid of S. platensis were observed in colorless flasks and that the lowest values were recorded with the green colored flasks. Also, the hot water extract of S. platensis obtained from colorless flasks at a concentration of 15 mg/mL after 60 min of incubation exhibited the greatest reduction of cholesterol level. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of S. platensis methanolic extract showed 15 bioactive compounds were identified and grouped according to their chemical structures. An experimental model of hypercholesterolemic mice had been examined for impact of S. platensis individually and combined with atorvastatin drug. All S. platensis groups resulted in a remarkable decrease in plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein; and increase in high density lipoprotein.

Conclusion: The present study concluded that the hot aqueous extract of S. platensis developed in colorless flasks is recommended as a natural source for bioactive compounds, with anti-cholesterol and antioxidant potentialities.

Keywords: Aqueous extract; Artificial illumination; Cholesterol; Colored flasks; GC-MS; Hypolipidemic; Male swiss albino; Spirulina platensis; in vitro; in vivo.

Grants and funding

The authors received no funding for this work.