Looking beyond Arthrospira: Comparison of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of ten cyanobacteria strains

• Published in: Algal research (Amsterdam) 2023-07, Vol.74, p.103182, Article 103182
• Main Authors: Gómez, Patricia I., Mayorga, Jaen, Flaig, David, Castro-Varela, Pablo, Jaupi, Alejandra, Ulloa, Pablo A., Soto-Bartierra, Jorge, Henríquez, Vitalia, Rojas, Verónica
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: algae; Anabaena; Anti-inflammatory activity; antioxidant activity; Antioxidant capacity; Arthrospira; Biochemical characterization; biomass production; Cyanobacteria strains; cytotoxicity; dietary supplements; erythrocyte membrane; etiology; flavonoids; functional foods; humans; inflammation; Nodularia; oxidative stress; Phormidium; photosynthesis; phycocyanin; prokaryotic cells; protein content; reactive oxygen species; Spirulina; therapeutics
• ISSN: 2211-9264; 2211-9264
• DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2023.103182

Cyanobacteria are a widely distributed group of photosynthetic prokaryotes with potential to produce biologically active compounds. Arthrospira is the most widespread grown cyanobacteria for commercial purposes; however, many other species could be used as sources of a wide variety of bio-products. The pigment phycocyanin explains part of the therapeutic properties attributed to Arthrospira (e.g. antioxidant and anti-inflammatory). Many chronic diseases include, on its etiology, oxidative stress and abnormalities in the inflammatory response; thus, there is great interest in finding new sources of natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. The aim of this work was to evaluate growth attributes, chemical composition and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of ten cyanobacteria isolates. After 15 days of culture, biomass production ranged between 0.06 g/L (Anabaena) and 0.27 g/L (Phormidium) in 20 L volume cultures. Protein content of dry biomass ranged between 28.86 % (Nodularia) and 56.39 % (Arthrospira) while phycocyanin content ranged between 0.86 % (Nodularia) and 6.66 % (Spirulina). Aqueous extracts were evaluated regarding total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC) and antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP). Spirulina and Desertifilum exhibited the highest phenols and flavonoids contents; as well as the highest ABTS and FRAP antioxidant activities. Five strains were selected for measuring anti-inflammatory activity by the human erythrocyte membrane stabilization assay. All the strains evaluated exhibited a remarkable anti-inflammatory capacity, being the highest value for Desertifilum. Strains of Spirulina and Desertifilum were also tested for their ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) on Hek293 cells; both strains showed significant intracellular antioxidant capacity and were not cytotoxic. This research demonstrated that other cyanobacterial strains, besides the popular Arthrospira, might be new sources of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds for biotechnological applications in functional food, nutraceutical or pharmaceutical industries. •The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of 10 cyanobacterial strains was evaluated.•Spirulina and Desertifilum had the highest phenols and flavonoids contents.•Spirulina and Desertifilum had the highest antioxidant activity.•Desertifilum had the highest anti-inflammatory capacity.•Besides the popular Arthrospira, other cyanobacteria awake biote