# Effect of Spirulina (Formerly Arthospira) Maxima against Ethanol-Induced Damage in Rat Liver
## 1 Introduction  
Spirulina (formerly Arthospira) maxima (SP) is a filamentous cyanobacterium found growing in alkaline water bodies and that has been consumed by humans for thousands of years without side effects. It is easily digested and absorbed by the human body and has been reported to have great nutritional and pharmacological potential [1, 2, 3, 4]. SP contains several macro- and micronutrients, such as a high protein content (including all essential amino acids), vitamins (B12, E, C, K, and pro-vitamin A), beta caroten, gamma linoleic acid, and different active substances, such as phycocyanin, phenolic compounds, and trace elements. It is also a considerable source of sulfolipids and glycolipids; with regard to mineral content, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and potassium are highlighted [5, 6, 7, 8]. Recent in vivo and in vitro studies showed that SP has excellent antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects, and properties attributed to it include being neuroprotective and hepatotoxicity. In addition, it possesses an immunomodulatory effect and is effective in treating hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, among other metabolic dysfunctions [9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14]. Liver diseases comprise an important public health problem due to their high morbidity and mortality [15]. The liver is the human body's main organ of metabolism andexcretion and is susceptible to various pathologies, the most frequent of these being acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocarcinoma. Excessive alcohol consumption is one of the main causes of liver disease worldwide, encompassing different lesions, ranging from steatosis in various stages to cirrhosis with the subsequent risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. The main risk factors associated with the evolution of this disease are amount of alcohol ingested, type of alcohol, gender, obesity, genetic factors, and gene polymorphisms [16]. Oxidative stress is the result of an alteration between prooxidants and antioxidants, causing the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which play an essential role in pathological changes in the liver, particularly in cases of alcoholic and toxic liver diseases [17]. The main functions of antioxidative defenses are suppressors of the generation of ROS, with the scavenging of these, in addition to repairing and promoting the reconstitution of damage [18]. There are numerous antioxidant mechanisms, including low-molecular-weight non-enzymatic molecules and enzymes. Glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) are the enzymes that provide cellular protection against the damage caused by free radicals and ROS. However, this protection may not be efficient when there is an overproduction of ROS; thus, different dietary antioxidants may contribute to achieving a protective mechanism. Partial hepatectomy (PH) induced liver regeneration and enzyme release, which have been described in detail in the literature in recent years. Altered levels of serum and liver enzymes have been reported in induced liver injury [19; 20]. Likewise, alterations have been reported in the serum levels of cholesterol, glucose, triglycerides, and bilirubin, and these are the most specific markers for detecting liver damage [21]. Currently, treatment options for the different hepatopathologies are limited; hence, there is a need to have different treatment schemes [22]. Therapeutic strategies are based on changes in lifestyle, such as exercising and consuming a balanced diet. Different studies have reported different phytotherapeutic agents that may have anti-hepatitis activity or that may act against liver-associated diseases. A large number of plants and phytopharmaceuals worldwide have been employed for this purpose [23; 24]: the antioxidant activities of Spirulina were demonstrated in a large number of preclinical studies [25; 26; 27].