Effect of the carotenoid-producing alga, Dunaliella bardawil, on CCl4-induced toxicity in rats.

Dunaliella bardawil is a carotenoid-producing alga that is being considered for use in nutraceuticals. To evaluate potential protective effects of consumption of this alga, rats were treated with two different doses of D. bardawil (2.5 and 5.0 g kg(-1) body weight [bw]) as a biomass suspension daily for 14 days. Animals were tested against Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4; 2 ml kg(-1))-induced liver toxicity as measured by various biochemical marker enzymes in liver and blood. All measurements were taken 6 h following the single dose of CCl4. The results of this study show that there was a slight, but statistically significant mean serum enzyme values, with D. bardawil treatment, compared to higher mean values in animals receiving CCl4 alone. Lipid peroxidation is measured by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) activity was likewise slightly less elevated with algae treatment. The results also demonstrated protection against DNA strand breaks in hepatocytes, as measured by single cell gel electrophoresis. Liver histopathology was less severe with D. bardawil treatment, supporting the apparent protective action of 14-day treatment on hepatic oxidative injury.