In Vitro and In Vivo Investigations of the Wound Healing Effect of Crude Spirulina Extract and C-Phycocyanin

The study from 11 years ago evaluated the wound healing effects of crude Spirulina extract (PSE) and C-phycocyanin (C-PC) on human keratinocytes and on Sprague-Dawley male rats with skin wounds. In vitro tests showed that PSE stimulated cell growth, with cell viability reaching up to 270% at a 33.5 µg/mL dose, while C-PC also enhanced cell viability up to 213%. In vivo, the study involved 21 rats with six wounds each, treated with various concentrations of PSE and C-PC. The results indicated that both PSE and C-PC improved wound healing compared to a placebo, with 1.25% C-PC showing the best effect on tissue regeneration on the 7th day. The study concluded that Spirulina-derived substances, particularly C-PC, have potential as wound healing agents, with the need for further research to isolate new molecules from PSE and understand their mechanisms of action. The study was supported by grants from the Turkish Republic of Prime Ministry State Planning Organization and Ege University.