Mechanism of protective effect of spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) against experimental obesity and hepatic steatosis in rats

Obesity is a major health problem currently due to the fatty acid accumulation and excess intake of energy which  leads to increase the oxidative stress, particularly in the liver. The purpose of this study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of spirulina (SP) against cafeteria diet (CD)-induced obesity, oxidative stress and lipotoxicity in rats.The rats were separated into four groups and given the following treatments daily for eight weeks: control with standard diet (SD 360 g/d); cafeteria diet (CD: 360 g/d); spirulina (SP 500mg/kg) Body weight (b.w) per oraly (p.o.) and CD+SP (500 mg/kg, b.w., p.o.). Our result suggest that the treatment of the (CD) increased the body, liver, and abdominal fat weight. Additional severe hepatic alteration, serum metabolic parameters disturbances and lipotoxicity associated with oxidative stress in response to the CD-induced obesity. However, SP treatment significantly reduced all the liver alteration of CD feed and lipid profiles disorder associated with obesity. Our findings suggest that spirulina has a marked potential therapeutic effect against obesity and mitigates the all liver function parameters disturbances, histological alterations, as well as oxidative stress status.