AIM: To investigate the effect of Se-containing spirulina phycocyanin (Se-SPC) on liver injury of mice induced by carbon
tetrachloride (CCl 4). METHODS: The mouse model was conducted by intragastric feeding with 2% CCl 4 oil for three times, meanwhile Se-SPC, spirulina phycocyanin (SPC) and Na 2SeO 3 were injected (ip) to various groups for 7 days. Then
selenium (Se),
glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), malondiaoldehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in blood and liver were measured. RESULTS: The level of Se, GPx and SOD activities were obviously higher ( P< 0.05) but ALT activity, MDA and NO - 2/NO - 3 levels were remarkably lower ( P< 0.05) in Se-SPC treated groups than those in CCl 4 groups, and effects of high dose Se-SPC on Se, GPx, MDA and NO - 2/NO - 3 were even more significant ( P <0 01). Under the same dose of Se or protein, effects of all selected targets in Se-SPC groups were more efficient than those in SPC groups and inorganic-Se groups. Furthermore, Se levels had a positive correlation with GPx activity ( r= 0 705), which had negative correlation with levels of MDA, NO - 2/NO - 3 and ALT ( r =-0 629, r =-0 336, r =-0 457, respectively ), and positive correlations between ALT activity and MDA or NO - 2/NO - 3 level were found ( r= 0 519, r= 0 641 ). CONCLUSION: These results indicated that Se-SPC may attenuate liver injury of mice induced by CCl 4 through its anti-inflammatory action and enhancing selenoenzyme expression.