Abstract

Mohamed Bedor, Mostafa Rifat and Erfan Mattr

This study illustrates the process of enhancing phenolics synthesis in Spirulina maxima grown in Zarrouk’s medium supplemented with sodium nitrate (NaNO3) and/or phenylalanine (L-PA); attaining highest production were obtained in medium containing 3.77 gL-1 NaNO3 and 100 mgL -1 L-PA. HPLC profile showed the presence of phenolic acids and flavonoids predominantly with gallate, chlorogenate, cinnamate, pinostrobate and p-OH-benzoates. The protective action of Spirulina phenolic compounds (SPC) against CCl4-induced in vitro, hepato-toxicity symptoms like microsomal lipid peroxidation and hydroxyl radical formation were studied. SPC exhibited antioxidant effects on DPPH radical scavenging with IC50 values ranging from 23.22 to 35.62 µg.mL-1 and inhibited CCl4-induced lipid peroxidation in hepato-microsoms model, in dose-depended manner. Their protective potential was comparable to that of standard phenolic antioxidants such as BHT, BHA and –tocopherol (IC50 values ranged from 13.22 to 23.62 µg.mL-1 ).