| Abstrakt: |
Spirulina, a filamentous and spiral-shaped blue-green alga, contains an array of bioactive compounds and has emerged to be a nutraceutical. It has a unique blend of around 70 biologically active compounds which enhances its therapeutic significance. Its role against carcinogenesis can be attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of ingredients like C-Phycocyanin, β-Carotene, Calcium Spirulan, Linoleic and Linolenic acids. Spirulina extracts were shown to enhance endonuclease activity, DNA repair and induction of apoptosis in cells. Some studies also reported myelosuppression and enhanced immune function. Murine studies indicated there was a possibility of reversing the mechanism of carcinogenesis, particularly in oral, stomach, breast and skin cancers as well as in doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide and DBMA-induced tumours. Spirulina also appeared to reduce cardio-, nephro- and hepato-toxicity in rodents. The chemo and radioprotective effect of Spirulina was also observed in various carcinogenic human cell lines. The C-phycocyanin component was shown to induce apoptosis in HeLa cells in vitro. Commercially available Spirulina is administered as an adjunct to chemotherapy. The evidence of effectiveness of Spirulina in cancer is extremely limited as far as the clinical trials are concerned. The Spirulina studies conducted on various types of carcinogenesis show a degree of similitude but are in a haphazard state. The current anatomization is an attempt on part of the authors to coalesce all the contemporaneous data and create a systematic review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
