• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.138-143
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• 2008

We investigated if Chlorella vulgaris (CV) has protective effects on cadmium (Cd) induced liver damage in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Forty rats, aged 5 weeks old and weighed 90-110g, were divided into a control (with Cd free water), 50 ppm of $CdCl_2$ in drinking water treated groups (Chlorella 0% diet group (Cd/CV0%), Chlorella 5% diet group (Cd/CV5%) or Chlorella 10% diet group (Cd/CV10%). All the rats had freely access to water and diet for 8 weeks. The results show that body weight gain and relative liver weight had significantly lower in Cd/CV0%-treated group than in Cd/CV-treated groups. Hepatic Cd contents showed significantly less by feeding CV (P<0.05). Cd/CV0%-treated rats had significantly (P<0.05) higher hepatic T-MTs, and Cd-MTs concentrations, compared to Cd/CV5% or Cd/CV10% treated rats. The MT I/II mRNA was expressed in the liver of all experimental rats. Its expression was more increased in Cd/CV5%- or Cd/CV10%-treated rats, compared to control and Cd-treated rats. Thus, this study suggested that CV would have a protective effect on Cd-treated liver injury by the reduction of Cd concentrations and stimulation of Cd-MT binds in the liver. However, more studies are needed to identify the proper mechanism of CV and liver toxicity.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.88-92
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• 2009

The effect of Chlorella vulgaris (CV) on the urinary excretion of di-ortho PCB congeners (PCB-138, -153) was investigated. Sprague-Dawley rats (6-weeks-old, n=10 rats/group) were randomly divided into one control (0CV) or 2% CV (2CV) or 5% CV (5CV) or 10% CV (10CV) groups, respectively. Composition of normal and chlorella meal-based diet were made up of 30% casein, 15% cornstarch, 50% sucrose, 5% cellulose, 5% coconut oil, 3.5% mineral mixture, 1 % vitamin mixture. All rats had free access to water and diet for 4 weeks. A significant increase in both PCB 138 and 153 in urinary level was detected in CV fed groups, 540% and 167% for 2CV, 155% and 89% for 5CV, 114% and 144% for 10CV group, respectively, when compared with their controls. These findings suggest that CV may have potential to eliminate body burden levels of dioxin-like PCB compounds.

• 한국식품영양학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.169-175
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• 2006

단세포 조류 생물인 Chlorella vulgaris(클로렐라)는 다양한 생리 활성을 가진 기능성 소재로 이용되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 강제 수영 부하 실험과 혈액 생화학적 지표에 대한 클로렐라의 효과에 대해 연구하였다. 혈액 생화학적 지표로는 Blood urea nitrogen(BUN), creatine kinase(CK), lactic dehydrogenase(LDH), glucose(Glc), total protein(TP), albumin을 혈액 생화학적 지표로 측정하였다. 매일 0.05, 0.1, 0.15 g/kg 농도의 클로렐라를 각각 실험 군별로 마우스에 구강 투여했다. 클로렐라를 투여한지 3일, 7일째 되는 날 강제 수영 부하 실험을 시행한 결과 0.15 g/kg 클로렐라를 투여한 그룹에서 유의적으로 부동시간을 감소시켰다. 또한 혈청 중 BUN 수치를 낮췄으며, CK, LDH 수치는 감소하는 경향을 나타냈다. 클로렐라 투여 시 혈 중 Glc 수치는 높아졌으나, TP 와 albumin 수치는 변화가 없었다. 이상의 결과들은 클로렐라가 육체적 지구력 향상 효과가 있는 것을 시사하고 있다.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제17권5호
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• pp.953-958
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• 2008

The object of this study was to investigate the immune-enhancing effects of Chlorella vulgaris (CV) on a deteriorated immune function by a protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) diet. Unicellular algae, CV were used as a biological response modifier. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed for 15 days with standard diet or a PEM diet, which is associated with decreased host immune defense. After 8 days, mice in the PEM diet group were orally administered by 0.05, 0.1, and 0.15 g/kg body weight of CV or distilled water. Nutritional parameters, and interferon (IFN)-$\gamma$ levels were significantly increased in the blood serum of the CV (0.15 g/kg)-treated group (29.6$\pm$2.8 pg/mL) compared to the non-treated PEM group (4.1$\pm$0.4 pg/mL, p<0.05). In addition, cell proliferation and production of cytokines were investigated via a CV (0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/mL) treatment using a human T cell line MOLT-4 cell. The CV treatment (1 mg/mL) significantly increased the production of both IFN-$\gamma$ and interleukin (IL)-2 (51.3$\pm$3.4 and 285.9$\pm$18.8 pg/mL, respectively) compared to the control (51.3$\pm$3.4 and 442.6$\pm$14.3 pg/mL, respectively), but did not affect the production of IL-4. These results suggest that CV may be useful in improving the immune function.