Arthrospira platensis prevents oxidative stress and suppresses IL-1β expression in the ileum of rats fed a hypercaloric diet

[Display omitted] •Spirulina is a photosynthetic alga with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.•Natural antioxidants reduce ROS production and oxidative stress.•S. platensis reduces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.•The consumption of bioactive compounds has a positive effect on the gastrointestinal flora. Obesity is characterized by an energy imbalance caused by caloric intake and expenditure, being a risk factor associated with a wide range of pathophysiological conditions including gastrointestinal diseases. In recent years, it has been shown that overexpression of oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines is a mechanistic link between obesity and cellular functions in animals and humans. Some natural products are reported to be effective in counteracting the adverse effects of oxidative stress. Thus, Arthorpira platensis (AP) stands out, an alga with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Thus, the objective is to evaluate the preventive effects of AP supplementation on oxidative stress and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels in the ileum of rats fed a hypercaloric diet. The rats were divided into a group fed a standard diet (SD), a hypercaloric diet (HCD) and/or fed a hypercaloric diet and supplemented simultaneously with AP 25 mg/Kg (HCD + AP25), after 8 weeks of treatment the ileum was collected for The analyses. It was observed that in the DHC group there was underproduction of antioxidant enzymes as well as overexpression of oxidative stress in the ileum of rats, interestingly this damage was prevented by the alga. Furthermore, the DHC group showed high levels of IL-1β (940.6 ± 34.5) such an increase was prevented in the HCD + AP25 group (597.2 ± 33.3). It is evident, therefore, that AP prevents the increase in oxidative stress and the inflammatory profile in the ileum of obese rats, making it a promising therapeutic alternative in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases aggravated by obesity.