C-phycocyanin extracted from Spirulina using a green solvent approach presents an anti-obesity characteristic in mice fed a hyperlipidic diet

Abstract

The effects of C-phycocyanin extract, obtained from Spirulina biomass using a sustainable method with water as solvent, on the white adipose tissue of male mice fed a high-fat diet were evaluated. The normolipid diet and C-phycocyanin groups were similar regarding body mass gain, leptin concentration and phosphorylated protein nuclear factor kappa B p-50 subunit expression. The C-phycocyanin group showed a notable reduction in serum resistin (88.18 ± 31.54, normolipid diet 158.5 ± 52.43) (pg/mL) and the concentration of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (p < 0.05) in 16 weeks of treatment within the retroperitoneal white adipose tissue. The high-fat diet has been associated with obesity development, and the utilization of artificial dyes has been linked to adverse effects. However, C-phycocyanin, a natural pigment, demonstrated promising outcomes. Our findings suggest that the C-phycocyanin extract effectively inhibited body mass gain, regulated leptin and resistin levels, and prevented the increase a pro-inflammatory state.

Keywords

• C-phycocyanin
• Spirulina
• Metabolism
• White adipose tissue
• Mice
• High-fat diet