| dc.description.abstract | The experiment was conducted with Long Evans rats in a view to observe the
comparative effects of Spirulina (Spirulina platensis) and Vitamin C in the prevention of
Arsenic Toxicity. Sixty male (Long Evans) rats (age about 35 days; average body weight
at day 0 was 75 g) were randomly divided into five equal groups (n=7), namely, control
group (T0), Arsenic treated group (T1), Arsenic plus Spirulina treated group (T2), Arsenic
plus Vitamin C treated group (T3) and Arsenic plus Spirulina plus Vitamin C treated
group (T4). Rats of T0 group were given normal feed and water and kept as control. Rats
of T1, T2, T3 and T4 were given (Arsenic trioxide) As2O3 100 mg/kg body weight daily for
45 days orally. In addition to As2O3 rats of group T2 and T4 were simultaneously fed with
Spirulina @ 1 gm/kg of feed and T3 and T4 were simultaneously feed with Vitamin C @
250mg /kg body weight up to 45 days respectively. Four rats from each group were
sacrificed at 15 days interval and blood samples were collected. No visible toxic clinical
signs were observed in any experimental rats during the study period. Highly body
weight were found except arsenic (T1) treated group of rats and administration of
spirulina tended to bring the body weight towards the normal. The values of SC (Serum
creatinine) increased significantly (P<0.01) in all the treated groups of rats (T1, T2, T3
and T4) compared to the control (T0) group, but Spirulina combined with Vitamin C
produced significant values comparable to the control group. Though the values of
SGOT (Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase) showed little significance (P<0.05)
but SGPT (Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase) showed highly significant value
(P<0.01) at 45th day of blood collection among different treated groups. Spirulina
combined with Vitamin C appeared most effective in managing arsenic treatment.
Spirulina with Vitamin C increased the values of TEC, TLC and Hb (Total erythrocyte
count, Total leukocyte count and Hemoglobin) against arsenic toxicity in rats and
showed highly significance compared to control group of differences treatment. In
conclusion, the combination of Spirulina and vitamin C were found more effective to
decreases the level of arsenic and prevention of chronic arsenicosis in rat than sole use of
Spirulina or Vitamin C. | en_US |
