Spirulina supplements: an approach moderating aspirin persuaded histological and ultra-structural alterations in albino rats gastric mucosa

ABSTRACT

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most used drugs. The pathogenesis of aspirin-induced gastric ulceration includes blocking the activities of the cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2) leading to reduced mucus and bicarbonate secretion. Spirulina contains many functional bioactive ingredients with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, including phenolic phytochemicals and phycobiliprotein C-phycocyanin. To investigate the possible gastroprotective role of spirulina against aspirin-induced gastric mucosal insults. Forty adult male albino rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups. Group I (Control) and group II (Spirulina control) were given spirulina for 3 days, group III (Ulcer model) were given single dose of acetyl salicylic acid to induce ulcer and group IV (Treatment) were given spirulina for 3 days after induction of ulcer formation. Animals were sacrificed, stomachs were collected and processed for examination of light and scanning electron microscope histopathological examination. Statistical difference mucosal mucin area percentage among groups was determined and data were analyzed. Histological examination of the H&E-stained and combined Alcian-blue-PAS-stained sections of Group III rats illustrated severe destruction of the mucosal architecture and reduction of the mucin surface area while those examined for group IV illustrated minor affection of the gastric mucosa and mucin protective layer. Oxidant antioxidant markers: Nitric oxide (NO) is elevated, Glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) are reduced in aspirin treated group. The use of Spirulina restores the normal balance between the oxidant antioxidant system. Spirulina has a great potential in protecting the gastric mucosa against harmful effect of NSAID.

KEYWORDS:

• Spirulina
• aspirin
• NSAIDs
• gastric ulcers

Compliance with ethical standards

Ethical approval: All applicable international (International Council of Harmonization), national, or institutional guidelines (Committee of the Animal Research Ethics) for the care and use of animals were followed.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Study limitations

One of the limitations of the current is the study that was the inability to include a transmission electron microscopic examination of the specimen to investigate alteration of the cellular organelles such as mitochondria. Authors recommend the use of TEM examination in future similar studies.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.