Effect of Spirulina (Spirulina platensis) Powder on Anemic rats:Biological, Biochemical and Technological Studies

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of spirulina on rats suffering from iron deficiency anemia. The current study was performed on 30 mature albino rats weighing 200+10g . Rats were divided into two main groups.The first group (6rats) fed on the basal diet as control-ve .The second group (24 rats) were fed on tannic acid by 20 g/ kg diet then divided into 4 subgroups each (6 rats).Group2 fed on basal diet as control+ve.Groups 3 ,4 and 5 fed on basal diet supplemented with 2,4 and 6 % spirulina powder , respectively. At the end of the experimental time (28 days), feed intake (FI),Feed efficiency ratio(FER) and body weight gain (BWG) were calculated. Blood Hemoglobin (Hb), Hematocrit (%), White Blood Cells (WBC), Red Blood Cells (RBC),Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH), Mean Cell Volume (MCV) , Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), serum glcose and platelets of anemic rats were determined.Also, the chemical composition and mineral components of spirulina were determined . Baladi bread was made and fortified with spirulina and the sensory evaluations were applied. Results showed that treatment with spirulina can increase F.I, F.E.R, B.W.G, Hb ,Hematocrit(%),WBC, RBC ,MCH, MCVand MCHC, but decrease serum glucose level and platelets of anemic rats.Sensory evaluation tests indicated greater acceptability of bread fortified with spirulina powder at a concentration of (0.5- 1%) as compared to the control sample. In conclusion, data suggested that spirulina is useful for anemic persons because it is a good source of iron