Spirulina may help alleviate some symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

A study led by a team from the Indian Institute of Advanced Research has identified that spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) contains antioxidant-boosting properties that can improve the lifespan and locomotor behavior of patients with Parkinson’s disease. Their findings, published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements, were the result of in vivo studies on the therapeutic effect of spirulina and its active component C-phycocyanin.

• Humans and animals have consumed spirulina for its nutritional value and therapeutic properties.
• Aside from its high protein content, it also contains high levels of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds (e.g., carotenoids, beta-carotene, phycocyanin, and phycocyanobilin).
• In the study, the team looked at the outcomes of spirulina treatment in Drosophila flies exposed to paraquat to mimic the effects of Parkinson’s disease. In particular, they looked at how it affects the insect’s movement and life expectancy.
• Researchers found that flies that have been supplemented with spirulina in their diets have increased lifespan and locomotor activity, even after exposure to paraquat.
• Individual and independent treatments of spirulina and C-phycocyanin deregulated cellular expression of heat shock protein and Jun-N-terminal kinase signaling in flies, which brought a marked decrease in cellular stress.
• Additionally, the team observed a decrease in superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in flies treated with spirulina, which indicated a modulated stress level, as well as improvements in lifespan and locomotor activity.

The findings revealed that spirulina can potentially be used to improve the lifespan and locomotor behavior of patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Learn more about the other health benefits of spirulina at Superfoods.news.

Journal Reference:

Kumar A, Christian PK, Panchal K, Guruprasad BR, Tiwari AK. SUPPLEMENTATION OF SPIRULINA (ARTHROSPIRA PLATENSIS) IMPROVES LIFESPAN AND LOCOMOTOR ACTIVITY IN PARAQUAT-SENSITIVE DJ-1??93 FLIES, A PARKINSONS DISEASE MODEL IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER. Journal of Dietary Supplements. 6 February 2017;14(5):573–588. DOI: 10.1080/19390211.2016.1275917