Study the antioxidant effects of blue-green algae Spirulina extract on ROS and MDA production in human lung cancer cells

Abstract

In order to study the effects of Spirulina, Arthrospira platensis, two cell lines of A549 and HFF were treated with the concentration of IC50 for 24 h. MTT analysis showed that the highest decrease in viability of cells happened at the concentration of 500 μg/ml. The necrosis, releases of LDH, produced DCFH, and Lipid peroxidation were higher in the cancer cell lines in comparison to normal cells. Results showed that the extract affected the cell cycle of the A549 cell line. Also, the algal extract had concentration-dependent antioxidant activity. Also, the production of malonyl dialdehyde was significantly higher in treated cells and there was a significant relationship between produced MDA and ROS. Results showed that A. platensis extract had a remarkable effect on the lung cancer cell cycle and arrest the cell cycle in phase G₂; so the cells didn't enter phase M and the proliferation of cancer cells prevented. Furthermore, according to the higher production of ROS and MDA in treated A549 cancer cell lines, it could be concluded that this algal extract could be considered as a natural product with anticancer activity against lung cancer cells.

Keywords: Algae; Anti-cancer; Bioproduct; Lung cancer; Spirulina.

Fig. 1

Effects of A. platensis extract on A549 and HFF cells, at concentration of 500 μg/ml the viability of A549 cells was significantly decreased compare to HFF cells, (p ≤ 0.001: ***).

Fig. 2

Comparison of Proliferation rate in A549 and HFF cells after treatment with multiple concentrations of A. platensis (p ≤ 0.05: *; p ≤ 0.01: **; p ≤ 0.0001: ****).

Fig. 3

Type and measure of cell death in HFF cells (A) and A549 cells (B) horizontal axis showing fluorescent of Annexin and vertical axis showing Propidium Iodide staining. Comparison of amount and type of cell death in A549 and HFF cells treated with algal extract and control group (C) (p ≤ 0.05: *). (Q1: Necrotic cells; Q2: cells at final stages of apoptosis; Q3: cells at beginning of apoptosis; Q4: healthy cells).

Fig. 4

Diagram (A) shows the accumulation of the cancer cells control group of the A549 in various phases of cell cycle and Diagram (B) shows the accumulation of the normal cells control group of the HFF in various phases of the cell cycle and Diagram (C) shows the accumulation of cancer cells treatment group A549 in various phases of the cell cycle. Diagram (D) shows the accumulation of the treatment group HFF cells in various phases of the cell cycle. Diagram (E) shows the presence of cells in each phase of the cell cycle compared to the control group. Two cell lines were compared.

Fig. 5

(A) Results of the extract antioxidant activity level of A. platensis in various concentrations: statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference between different concentrations except for the 125 μg/ml and 500 μg/ml. (B) The amount of DCFH produced in two experimental cell lines (A549 cells compared to HFF cells). Control groups and treated with IC50 concentration of S. platensis extract at 24 h (P ≤ 0/01). (C) The amount of malondialdehyde produced in A549 cells compared to HFF cells treated with IC50 concentration of Spirulina extract at 24 h (p ≤ 0.001). (D): Releases of LDH in HFF and A549 cells treated with algal extract in compare to control group (without extract).