Selective inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 by C-phycocyanin, a biliprotein from Spirulina platensis

C. Madhava Reddy, Vadiraja B. Bhat, G. Kiranmai, M. Narsa Reddy, P. Reddanna, K. M. Madyastha*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

235 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report data from two related assay systems (isolated enzyme assays and whole blood assays) that C-phycocyanin a biliprotein from Spirulina platensis is a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) with a very low IC50 COX-2/IC50 COX-1 ratio (0.04). The extent of inhibition depends on the period of preincubation of phycocyanin with COX-2, but without any effect on the period of preincubation with COX-1. The IC50 value obtained for the inhibition of COX-2 by phycocyanin is much lower (180 nM) as compared to those of celecoxib (255 nM) and rofecoxib (401 nM), the well-known selective COX-2 inhibitors. In the human whole blood assay, phycocyanin very efficiently inhibited COX-2 with an IC50 value of 80 nM. Reduced phycocyanin and phycocyanobilin, the chromophore of phycocyanin are poor inhibitors of COX-2 without COX-2 selectivity. This suggests that apoprotein in phycocyanin plays a key role in the selective inhibition of COX-2. The present study points out that the hepato-protective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-arthritic properties of phycocyanin reported in the literature may be due, in part, to its selective COX-2 inhibitory property, although its ability to efficiently scavenge free radicals and effectively inhibit lipid peroxidation may also be involved. (C) 2000 Academic Press.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)599-603
Number of pages5
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume277
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2 2000

Keywords

  • Cyclooxygenase-1
  • Cyclooxygenase-2
  • Inhibition
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  • Phycocyanin
  • Phycocyanobilin
  • Reduced phycocyanin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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