Immunomodulatory effect of dietary Spirulina platensis in type II collagen induced arthritis in rats

Spirulina platensis, a filamentous, multicellular microalga, is grown in certain countries as food for human and animal consumption. It is also used to derive additives in pharmaceuticals and foods. The present study was undertaken to examine the immunomodulatory effect of S. platensis in collagen induced arthritis (CIA) in rats. From the zero day of induction of arthritis, S. platensis (200 and 400 mg kg -1 ) was administered orally to arthritic rats up to 45 days. The arthritis score, serum pro-inflammatory cytokine, anti-collagen antibody level, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to collagen and histology of paw joints were measured as marker of inflammation in arthritis. S. platensis significantly reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6), arthritis score and synovial cell infiltration that had been increased in arthritic rats. Conclusion: These finding indicates that S. platensis had immunomodulatory effect via modulation of multiple pathways of inflammation.