Monday Spe. 08, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) - J Avila-Román at University of Seville in Seville, Spain and colleagues published a study that suggests microalga Chlamydomonas debaryana can help treat acute inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

Microalgae are rich in n-3 PUFA and oxylipin derivatives. Oxylipins are known to be involved in the resolution of many inflammatory disorders.   It is reasonable to speculate that this microalga and its oxylipin derivatives may help IBD.

The current study was intended to examine how C. debaryana and its major oxylipin constituent, (9Z,11E,13S,15Z)-13-hydroxyoctadeca-9,11,15-trienoic acid ((13S)-HOTE) affect acute colitis in rats induced by a chemical called 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid.  Colitis is one common type of IBD.

For the study, rats were given orally microalgal biomass of C. debaryana and 13S-Hote 48, 24 and 1 hours before colitis was induced and 24 hours after the induction.  At 48 hours, rats were euthanized.

Both microalgia and 13S-Hote were found to improve body weight loss and colon shortening and reduce colonic damage and increase mucus production.

The micoralga and its oxylipin derivative demonstrated their anti-inflammatory effect by both reducing cellular neutrophil infiltration induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid and inhibiting colonic TNF-α production.

Additionally, lyophilized microalga and 13S-Hote down-regulated expression of  cyclo-oxygenase-2 and nitric oxide synthase.

The study suggests that lyophilized biomass of microalga C. debaryana and its oxylipin derivative 13S-Hote can be used as neutraceuticals to treat active phase of IBD.

Inflammatory bowel diseases are characterized by chronic uncontrolled inflammation of intestinal mucosa.  The common symptoms include stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, constipation, weight loss and severe internal cramps/muscle spasms in the region of the pelvis. (David Liu, PHD)

Avila-Román J, Talero E, Alcaide A, Reyes CD, Zubía E, García-Mauriño S, Motilva V.  Preventive effect of the microalga Chlamydomonas debaryana on the acute phase of experimental colitis in rats.  Br J Nutr. 2014 Sep 5:1-10.