An update on potential applications of Spirulina sp. and C-phycocyanin to treat kidney diseases

Sandra Rodríguez-Salgueiro ¹^*, Zulema Ramírez-Carmenate ², Lucía González-Núñez ³

¹ Microscopy Laboratory, Biological Products Group, National Center for Scientific Research, Havana, Cuba
² Vivarium, Molecular Immunology Center, Havana, Cuba
³ Department of Biomedical II, Latin American School of Medicine, Havana, Cuba

*Corresponding Author: Sandra Rodríguez Salgueiro, PhD, Email: sandra.rodriguez@cnic.edu.cu

Abstract

To date, kidney protection is not included in clinical applications of commercial formulations of Spirulina sp. In this Mini-review, the potential nephroprotective properties of Spirulina sp. and its pigment C-phycocyanin are exposed. Both agents have shown beneficial effects in animal or cellular models of renal injury induced by nephrotoxicity, diabetic nephropathy, ureteral obstruction and ischemia-reperfusion. These renoprotective effects of Spirulina sp. and C-phycocyanin are mainly attributed to their well known antioxidant properties.

Keywords: Spirulina, C-phycocyanin, Kidney diseases, Nephroprotection, Antioxidant, Renal damage

Citation: Rodrígue-zSalgueiro S, Ramírez-Carmenate Z, González-Núñez L. An update on potential applications of Spirulina sp. and C-phycocyanin to treat kidney diseases. Ann Res Antioxid. 2017;2(1):e04.