<i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> Supplementation Attenuates Lead Accumulation, Oxidative Stress, and Memory Impairment in Rats
Lead is a harmful heavy metal known to alter the environment and affect human health. Several industries have contributed to the increase in lead contamination, making it a major global concern. Thus, remediation strategies are necessary to prevent lead bioaccumulation and deleterious health effects...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Juan Pablo Diaz Eduardo Pena Samia El Alam Cecilia Matte Isaac Cortés Leonardo Figueroa Patricia Siques Julio Brito |
| author_facet | Juan Pablo Diaz Eduardo Pena Samia El Alam Cecilia Matte Isaac Cortés Leonardo Figueroa Patricia Siques Julio Brito |
| author_sort | Juan Pablo Diaz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lead is a harmful heavy metal known to alter the environment and affect human health. Several industries have contributed to the increase in lead contamination, making it a major global concern. Thus, remediation strategies are necessary to prevent lead bioaccumulation and deleterious health effects. The aim of this study was to determine the capacity of the green microalga <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> (<i>C. vulgaris</i> or CV) to remove lead in an animal model and prevent the accumulation of this heavy metal in the principal organs (brain, liver, and kidney) and blood. Forty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10): control group (CT); <i>C. vulgaris</i> supplementation group, 5% of the diet (CV); lead acetate administration group, 500 ppm (Pb); and <i>C. vulgaris</i> supplementation group, 5% of the diet plus lead acetate administration group, 500 ppm (CV–Pb). After 4 weeks of exposure, we measured lead accumulation, memory function, oxidative stress, and antioxidant activity (SOD and GSH). Lead exposure altered memory function, increased oxidative stress in the brain and kidney, and increased SOD activity in the brain. Supplementation with <i>C. vulgaris</i> restored memory function to control levels; reduced oxidative stress in the brain and kidney; and decreased the accumulation of lead in the liver, kidney, and blood of rats exposed to lead. Based on our results, <i>C. vulgaris</i> is a lead chelating and antioxidant agent in animal models. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4d3ffbf60ba84f558ad47c119cc17bab |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2305-6304 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-4d3ffbf60ba84f558ad47c119cc17bab2025-08-20T03:13:59ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042025-04-0113431310.3390/toxics13040313<i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> Supplementation Attenuates Lead Accumulation, Oxidative Stress, and Memory Impairment in RatsJuan Pablo Diaz0Eduardo Pena1Samia El Alam2Cecilia Matte3Isaac Cortés4Leonardo Figueroa5Patricia Siques6Julio Brito7Faculty of Natural and Renewable Resources, Arturo Prat University, Iquique 1100000, ChileHigh Altitude Medicine Research Center, Arturo Prat University, Iquique 1100000, ChileHigh Altitude Medicine Research Center, Arturo Prat University, Iquique 1100000, ChileHigh Altitude Medicine Research Center, Arturo Prat University, Iquique 1100000, ChileMathematic Department, Engineer Faculty, Atacama University, Copiapó 1530000, ChileChemical Department, Science Faculty, University of Tarapaca, Arica 1000000, ChileHigh Altitude Medicine Research Center, Arturo Prat University, Iquique 1100000, ChileHigh Altitude Medicine Research Center, Arturo Prat University, Iquique 1100000, ChileLead is a harmful heavy metal known to alter the environment and affect human health. Several industries have contributed to the increase in lead contamination, making it a major global concern. Thus, remediation strategies are necessary to prevent lead bioaccumulation and deleterious health effects. The aim of this study was to determine the capacity of the green microalga <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> (<i>C. vulgaris</i> or CV) to remove lead in an animal model and prevent the accumulation of this heavy metal in the principal organs (brain, liver, and kidney) and blood. Forty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10): control group (CT); <i>C. vulgaris</i> supplementation group, 5% of the diet (CV); lead acetate administration group, 500 ppm (Pb); and <i>C. vulgaris</i> supplementation group, 5% of the diet plus lead acetate administration group, 500 ppm (CV–Pb). After 4 weeks of exposure, we measured lead accumulation, memory function, oxidative stress, and antioxidant activity (SOD and GSH). Lead exposure altered memory function, increased oxidative stress in the brain and kidney, and increased SOD activity in the brain. Supplementation with <i>C. vulgaris</i> restored memory function to control levels; reduced oxidative stress in the brain and kidney; and decreased the accumulation of lead in the liver, kidney, and blood of rats exposed to lead. Based on our results, <i>C. vulgaris</i> is a lead chelating and antioxidant agent in animal models.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/4/313lead<i>Chlorella vulgaris</i>oxidative stressmemorysupplementation |
| spellingShingle | Juan Pablo Diaz Eduardo Pena Samia El Alam Cecilia Matte Isaac Cortés Leonardo Figueroa Patricia Siques Julio Brito <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> Supplementation Attenuates Lead Accumulation, Oxidative Stress, and Memory Impairment in Rats Toxics lead <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> oxidative stress memory supplementation |
| title | <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> Supplementation Attenuates Lead Accumulation, Oxidative Stress, and Memory Impairment in Rats |
| title_full | <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> Supplementation Attenuates Lead Accumulation, Oxidative Stress, and Memory Impairment in Rats |
| title_fullStr | <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> Supplementation Attenuates Lead Accumulation, Oxidative Stress, and Memory Impairment in Rats |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> Supplementation Attenuates Lead Accumulation, Oxidative Stress, and Memory Impairment in Rats |
| title_short | <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> Supplementation Attenuates Lead Accumulation, Oxidative Stress, and Memory Impairment in Rats |
| title_sort | i chlorella vulgaris i supplementation attenuates lead accumulation oxidative stress and memory impairment in rats |
| topic | lead <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> oxidative stress memory supplementation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/4/313 |
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