The protective role of Spirulina platensis against the alterations in some biomarkers in crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) exposed to polyethylene nanoplastics

Author : Amal Mokhtar, Alaa El-Din H. Sayed , Sherif F. Hammad , Mohamed A. Ghazy

Abstract :Nanoplastics (NPs) pose potential environmental risks to crustaceans such as growth delay, inflammation, stress responses, reproductive and developmental toxicity. Spirulina platensis is considered as antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory species. This work aims to elucidate the potential involvement of S. platensis in hindering the accumulation of polyethylene nanoparticles (PE-NPS) in crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) and reducing their detrimental impacts. In this study, we divided the crayfish species into four groups; 1) control, 2) PE-NPS (10mg/L), 3) PE-NPS (10mg/L) + S. platensis and 4) S. platensis. The group exposed to PE-NPS only showed 1) an increase in oxidative stress enzymes ((the superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH), and total active cannabinoids (TAC); 2) a decrease in the activity of the nervous and immune system enzymes (Nitric Oxide (NO), acetylcholinesterase (AchE), lysozyme activities LYZ, phenoloxidase (POX) and acid phosphatase (ACP)); 3) a reduction in the hemocyte counts as a circulatory system marker. In the group treated with PE-NPs+ S. platensis, there was a positive effect on 1) the oxidative stress enzymes which reduced by almost 9%; 2) the neurological parameters have shown a significant increase by around 10.5%; the immune parameters (LYZ and ACP) showed a slight increase by almost 6.5%, while the POX enzyme elevated by 18% till reached to its normal activity. 3) the hemocyte counts increased significantly with 18%. The results illustrate the ability of the S. platensis to reduce the adverse impacts of PE-NPs on crayfish

Keywords :Procambarus clarkii, nanoplastics, Spirulina platensis, oxidative stress, neurological and immunological activity, liver function, hemocytes

Conference Name :International Conference on Environment and Life Science (ICELS-25)

Conference Place Salvador, Brazil

Conference Date 30th Apr 2025