Neuroprotective Effect of C-phycocyanin on Astrocytes via Enhancing Viability and Activating Antioxidant Enzymes

초록

C-phycocyanin (C-Pc), a pigment protein of green microalgae, has been known to have various pharmaceutical effects including anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-oxidant effect. And also, neuroprotective effect of c-pc has been studied by in vivo for treatment of brain injury. However in vitro study using one type of cells except neuron has not been studied yet. In this study, we assessed the effect of c-pc neuroprotective effect by in vivo test and in vitro test. As an in vivo test, 6 weeks SD rats which have MCAO were used and injected 2 mg/kg of c-phycocyanin on nasal. The rats injected c-pc have shown smaller infarct size than control injected nothing. In addition, as an in vitro test, primary astrocytes under oxidative stress were treated by c-pc with concentration difference. The treated astrocytes not only resisted oxidative stress and enhanced viability and activity showing reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) but also upregulated activities and mRNA of antioxidant enzymes. Thus, c-phycocyanin from marine green algae could be considered as a potential drug candidate for treatment of brain injury such as ischemic stroke.