Spirulina platensis and its ingredient biopterin glucoside improved insulin sensitivity in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis model

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is the chronic liver disease leading to cirrhosis and cancer and its prevalence is increasing. Some agents are under clinical trials for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis treatment. We previously reported Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis effectively prevented non-alcoholic steatohepatitis progression in our model rats. The contribution of phycocyanin, an ingredient of Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis, was limited. We, therefore, have looked for more active components of Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis. In this study, we pursued the effect of biopterin glucoside, another bioactive ingredient of Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis. We found Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis and biopterin glucoside oral administrations effectively alleviated oxidative stress, inflammation and insulin signal failure, and prevented fibroblast growth factor 21 gene overexpression in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis rat livers. We concluded biopterin glucoside is a major component of Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis action.