Phycocyanin as a nature-inspired antidiabetic agent: A systematic review

Kobra Ziyaei; Fatemeh Abdi; Majid Mokhtari; Mohammad Ali Daneshmehr; Zahra Ataie

doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154964

Phycocyanin as a nature-inspired antidiabetic agent: A systematic review

Phytomedicine. 2023 Oct:119:154964. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154964. Epub 2023 Jul 10.

Authors

Kobra Ziyaei¹, Fatemeh Abdi², Majid Mokhtari³, Mohammad Ali Daneshmehr⁴, Zahra Ataie⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
² Non-communicable Diseases Research Centre, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
³ Department of Bioinformatics, Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, Kish Island, Iran; Department of Bioinformatics, Personalized Precision Medicine Institute, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁵ Evidence-based Phytotherapy & Complementary Medicine Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran. Electronic address: zataie@abzums.ac.ir.

PMID: 37544212
DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154964

Abstract

Background: Nutraceuticals have been important for more than two decades for their safety, efficacy, and outstanding effects. Diabetes is a major metabolic syndrome, which may be improved using nutritional pharmaceuticals. Some microalgae species, such as spirulina, stand out by providing biomass with exceptional nutritional properties. Spirulina has a wide range of pharmacological effects, mostly related to phycocyanin. Phycocyanin is a protein compound with antidiabetic properties, known as a nutraceutical.

Objective: This review delves into phycocyanin applications in diabetes and its complications and ascertains the mechanisms involved.

Methods: Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and ProQuest databases were systematically reviewed (up to April 30, 2023), in which only animal and cellular studies were found.

Results: According to animal studies, the administration of phycocyanin affected biochemical parameters (primary outcome) related to diabetes. These results showed an increase in fasting insulin serum and a decrease in fasting blood glucose, glycosylated serum protein, and glycosylated hemoglobin. In cellular studies, though, phycocyanin prevented methylglyoxal and human islet amyloid polypeptide-induced dysfunction in β-cells and induced apoptosis through different molecular pathways (secondary outcome), including activation of Nrf2, PI3K/Akt, and suppression of JNK and p38. Also, phycocyanin exerted its antidiabetic effect by affecting the pathways regulating hepatic glucose metabolism.

Conclusions: Thus, based on the available information and literature, targeting these pathways by phycocyanin may unleash an array of benefits, including positive outcomes of the antidiabetic effects of phycocyanin as a nutraceutical.

Other: This systematic review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) at the National Institute of Health. The registration number is CRD42022307522.

Keywords: Diabetes; Insulin; Molecular mechanism; Nutraceutical; Phycocyanin; Spirulina.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Humans
Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
Insulin-Secreting Cells*
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
Phycocyanin / pharmacology
Spirulina* / chemistry
Systematic Reviews as Topic

Substances

Phycocyanin
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
Hypoglycemic Agents