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Therapeutic effect of the alkaloid extract of the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis on the lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic male rabbits

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Abstract

The authors’ objectives are to investigate the therapeutic effect of alkaloid extract of cyanobacteria Spirulina platensis on the lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic male rabbits and to identify the active compounds in the alkaloid extract. Male rabbits were divided into four groups of six animals. The intact rabbits in the first group served as a negative control. The second group served as a positive control (hypercholesterolemic rabbits). Over a 4-week period, hypercholesterolemic rabbits in the third group received a low dose of alkaloid extract (33 mg/kg), and the hypercholesterolemic rabbits in the fourth group received a high dose (66 mg/kg). The results revealed that both doses of alkaloid extract significantly decreased levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) when compared to the control group, whereas the high-density lipoproteins (HDL) increased significantly compared to the control group. The active compounds in the alkaloid extract were identified using GC-mass. The most abundant compounds found in the extract were 1-(+)-ascorbic acid 2,6-dihexadecanoate, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z)-, hexadecanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-1- (hydroxymethyl) ethyl ester, and gamolenic acid.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Basrah, Iraq, and is the result of the college’s collaboration with the College of Science, Thi Qar University, IQ-64001 Al Nasiriyah, Iraq; the Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Egypt; and the Chrono-Environment Laboratory, National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS 6249), Besançon, France.

Funding

This study was funded by grant 2215 from the Iraki University and the CNRS 6249, Besançon, France.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq

    Faris S. Kata, Ahmed M. Athbi & Entisar Q. Manwar

  2. Biology Department, College of Science, University of Thi Qar, Al Nasiriyah, IQ-64001, Iraq

    Ahmed Al-Ashoor

  3. Chrono-Environnement Laboratory, UMR CNRS 6249, Bourgogne Franche-Comté University, F-25030, Besançon Cedex, France

    Ahmed Al-Ashoor & Lotfi Aleya

  4. Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt

    Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim

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  1. Faris S. Kata
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Correspondence to Lotfi Aleya.

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Kata, F.S., Athbi, A.M., Manwar, E.Q. et al. Therapeutic effect of the alkaloid extract of the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis on the lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic male rabbits. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 19635–19642 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2170-4

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