Antineoplastic activity of γ-linolenic acid extract from Spirulina platensis on HepG2 cells and its inhibition effect on platelet aggregation

Abstract

Spirulina platensis (SP) is well recognised for its abundant unsaturated fatty acids, especially γ-linolenic acid (GLA). In this study, GLA was extracted from SP. Antineoplastic and antithrombotic activities of GLA were evaluated by measuring the concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde, as well as inducing apoptosis in HepG2 human hepatoma cells and diphosphatase-induced platelet aggregation inhibition assay, respectively. The study suggests that the GLA extraction from SP using ethanol achieved a higher extraction yield of 8.3 g kg−1 ± 0.17 g kg−1 (GLA/dry biomass) and inhibited cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. GLA extract (250 µM) strongly induced ROS generation and lipid peroxidation as well as apoptosis. The extract also caused a concentration-dependent antithrombotic effect on platelet aggregation in vitro. Thus, the GLA extract from SP can be applied in health care and functional foods.