This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Shih, C.-M. Articles by Chou, T.-C. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Shih, C.-M. Articles by Chou, T.-C. Related Collections Mechanisms Pain Mechanisms Preclinical Pharmacology Pharmacology

---

ANALGESIA

Antiinflammatory and Antihyperalgesic Activity of C-Phycocyanin

Chao-Ming Shih, MD^*, Shin-Nan Cheng, MD, PhD, Chih-Shung Wong, MD, PhD, Yu-Ling Kuo, MS, and Tz-Chong Chou, PhD

From the *Chia-Yi Christian Hospital; Department of Pediatrics, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center; Department of Anesthesiology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center; and Department of Physiology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Tz-Chong Chou, PhD, Department of Physiology, National Defense Medical Center, No. 161, Min-Chuan E. Rd., Sec. 6, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. Address e-mail to tcchou{at}ms5.hinet.net.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: C-phycocyanin (C-PC), a biliprotein found in blue green algae, such as Spirulina platensis, is often used as a dietary nutritional supplement due to its various therapeutic values. In addition, the antiinflammatory activity of C-PC partly through inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine formation, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygeanase-2 (COX-2) expression has been demonstrated in many in vitro and in vivo studies. However, whether C-PC also has antihyperalgesic activity in inflammatory nociception has not been investigated.

METHODS: Using a carrageenan-induced thermal hyperalgesia model, we evaluated the effect of C-PC on nociception by measuring paw withdrawal latency. To clarify the mechanisms involved, the expression of iNOS and COX-2 and the formation of nitrate and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) in the rat paw were determined.

RESULTS: Pre- or posttreatment with C-PC (30 or 50 mg/kg, IP) significantly attenuated carrageenan-induced inflammatory nociception and the induction of iNOS and COX-2 at the late phase, (4 h) accompanied by an inhibition of the formation of TNF-, prostaglandin E₂, nitrate and myeloperoxidase activity.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, it is suggested that the inhibition of NO and prostaglandin E₂ over-production through suppressing iNOS and COX-2 induction and attenuation of TNF- formation and neutrophil infiltration into inflammatory sites by C-PC may contribute, at least in part, to its antihyperalgesic activity.