Spirulina scientific reference library. Over 100 references covering 30 years of international research.

Effect of chlorella, spirulina, and chlorophyllin on fecal excretion of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins in rats.
by K. Morita, T. Matsueda, T. Iida. Fukuouka Institute of Health and Environmental Studies, Fukuoka 818-01, Japan. Pub. in Japan Journal Toxicology Environ. Health. 43 (1) 42-47 1997. Japan.

The paper presents the liver distribution and fecal excretion of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) congeners in male rats fed with Chlorella, Spirulina and chlorophyllin. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of PCDD excretion by chlorophyllin foods. The rats were given some treatment diets containing 20% Chlorella, 20% Spirulina, 0.2% 2% chlorophyllin, 10% rice-bran fiber or 2% chlorophyllin + 10% rice-bran fiber for 5 days. Then the animals were administered 4 g of each diet containing 0.5 ml of the causal rice-bran oil of Yusho that had occurred in the Southwest part of japan in 1968 and kept on the same diet for another 5 days. The rice bran oil contaminated with PCDDs was used for animal experiments. PCDD congeners in the feces and liver were analyzed by high-resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The fecal excretion of PCDDs in the groups fed with Chlorella, Spirulina, and 2% chlorophyllin were 7.4, 7.1, and 11.0 times higher respectively than that in the control group. These findings suggest that the administration of Chlorella, Spirulina, and chlorophyllin is useful as a new approach in the treatments of patients exposed to lipophilic zenobiotics.
Key Words – Yusho; Chlorella; Spirulina; chlorophyllin; dietary fiber; dioxin.

Effect of spirulina on the renal toxicity induced by inorganic mercury and cisplatin.
by H. Fukino, et al. 1990. Pub. in Eisei Kagaku, 36:5, 1990. Japan.

Kidney toxicity caused by mercury was suppressed by feeding spirulina to rats. A water-soluble extract of Spirulina, containing phycocyanin, the natural blue pigment, was examined. Renal (kidney) toxicity in rats caused by para-Aminophenol (pain reliever) and Cisplatin (anti-cancer) was significantly reduced by the phycocyanin extract of spirulina. Researchers concluded that phycocyanin plays a major role in the protective effect of spirulina against renal failure caused by mercury and pharmaceutical drugs and that spirulina might be applicable to the reduction of general renal disfunction.

The effect of spirulina on nephrotoxicity in rats.
by Y. Yamane, et al. 1988. Chiba Univ. Presented at Annual Symposium of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, April 15, 1988. Japan.

Heavy metals and pharmaceutical drugs are toxic to the kidney. The effects of spirulina on acute nephritis caused by inorganic mercury and pharmaceutical drugs were examined in rats. High mercury dosage caused nephrotoxcity in laboratory rats, measured by rising blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, urinary enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT). When rats were fed a diet of 30% spirulina, these factors significantly decreased, showing kidney detoxification. Three groups of rats were given pharmaceutical drugs used by humans: para-Aminophenol (anodyne/pain reliever), Gentamicin (anti-biotic), and Cisplatin (anti-cancer). Once again rats improved. The study suggests spirulina may have a beneficial effect on humans suffering from heavy metal poisoning and that kidney side effects may decrease when spirulina is taken with the administration of drugs. Side effects limit the dosage of drugs and slow down recovery, so shorter recovery times may be possible.