Objective The adjuvant blood lipid lowering and immune function enhancing activity of Spirulina in animal models were evaluated.
Methods Rats and mice fed with high-fat diet were orally administered with Spirulina at doses of 0.4g/kg.bw,0.8g/kg.bw,2.4g/kg.bw for 30 days.Serum
cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) levels;and Cellular immunity,humoral immunity,clearance capacity of mononuclear-macrophages and NK cell activity were respectively monitored before and after the administration of Spirulina. Results As compared with the control high-fat-diet-fed rats,the 2.4g/kg.bw dose could
significantly decrease serum cholesterol level(P<0.05);0.8g/kg.bw,2.4g /kg.bw dose could significantly lower serum triglyceride level(P<0.05), but Spirulina did not change the serum HDL-C level.As compared with the control mice,0.8g/kg.bw,2.4g/kg.bw dose could markedly enhance the carbon clearance capacity of mononuclear-macrophages,enhance the delayed type hypersensitivity and lymphocyte transformation capacity induced by ConA,and significantly increase antibody forming spleen cells.Spirulina showed no effect on NK cell activity. Conclusion Spirulina could assist blood lipid lowering and enhance immune function in rodents.