Anti-inflammatory role of Dunaliella salina carotenoid enrich fractions in paw oedema via down-regulation of COX-2/PGE2 pathway

K. El-Baz, Farouk; M. Aboul-Enein, Ahmed; Abdel-Fatah, Osama M.; H. Abd El-Baky, Hanaa; M. Hagag, Ahmed; I. Ali, Sami; Salama, Abeer

doi:10.21608/ejchem.2021.84702.4135

Anti-inflammatory role of Dunaliella salina carotenoid enrich fractions in paw oedema via down-regulation of COX-2/PGE2 pathway

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Plant Biochemistry Department, National Research Centre, El Buhouth St., Cairo, 12622, Egypt.

² Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Egypt.

³ pharmacology, NRC

10.21608/ejchem.2021.84702.4135

Abstract

Dunaliella salina (D. salina) is rich in natural potent antioxidants as beta carotene and zeaxanthin. It exhibits several therapeutic effects for diabetes, cancer, eye, and cardiovascular disorders. This study assesses the anti-inflammatory effect of beta carotene and zeaxanthin enrich fractions of D. salina against carrageenan induced inflammation in rats. HPLC analysis was performed, inflammation and oedema was induced by 1% carrageenan in all the groups. Crude extract of Dunaliella salina and carotenoids enrich fractions; zeaxanthin and β-carotene were administered orally concurrent with carrageenan. Paw thickness was measured at t = 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours. Oxidative stress biomarkers; nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase, proinflammatory cytokines; tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and neurotransmitters as serotonin were performed on serum samples. The HPLC analysis showed that crude extract contains β-carotene (19.167 mg/g extract) and zeaxanthin (‎16.196 mg/g extract), while beta carotene enrich fraction contains β-carotene (43.157 mg/g fraction) and zeaxanthin enrich fraction contains β-carotene (22.015 mg/g fraction). D. salina and carotenoids enrich fractions showed a statistically significant decrease in paw thickness at P < 0.05. D. salina and carotenoids rich fractions downregulated TNF-α, IL-6, COX-2, PGE2 and serotonin. D. salina and carotenoids enrich fractions ameliorated carrageenan inflammatory reaction by suppressing the oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines pathway.

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