Comparative Effects of Spirulina and Vitamin C against Arsenicosis in Rat

Abstract

An experiment was conducted with Long Evans rats to observe the comparative effects of Spirulina (Spirulina platensis) and Vitamin C to prevent Arsenic toxicity. Sixty male rats (age about 35 days; average body weight at day 0 was 75 g) were divided into five equal groups, namely control group (T₀), Arsenic treated group (T₁), Arsenic plus Spirulina treated group (T₂), Arsenic plus Vitamin C treated group (T₃) and Arsenic plus Spirulina plus Vitamin C treated group (T₄). Rats in the control group were given normal feed. Rats of T_1, T_2, T₃ and T₄ treated group were given Arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃) 100 mg/kg body weight daily for 45 days. In addition to As₂O₃, rats of group T₂ and T₄ were fed with Spirulina @ 1 g/kg of feed and T₃ and T₄ were fed with Vitamin C @ 250 mg/kg body weight simultaneously. Four rats from each group were sacrificed at 15 days interval to collect blood samples. The research result showed that higher body weight was found except T₁ group. It indicates administration of Spirulina tended to bring the body weight towards the normal. The values of SC increased significantly (P<0.01) in all the treated groups (T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄) compared to the control group. Though the values of SGOT showed little significance (P<0.05) but SGPT showed highly significant value (P<0.01) among the treated groups. Spirulina with Vitamin C increased the significant values of TEC, TLC and Hb compared to control. The overall results of the study showed that the combined of Spirulina and Vitamin C were found more effective to decrease the level of arsenic and also to prevent the chronic arsenicosis in rats.