Anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic properties of polar lipid extracts, rich in unsaturated fatty acids, from the Irish marine cyanobacterium Spirulina subsalsa

The characterization of cardio-protective lipid bioactives from cyanobacteria, such as Spirulina spp., has rarely  been investigated. In this study, neutral lipids, glycolipids, and phospholipids of Irish marine cyanobacterium  Spirulina subsalsa, were tested for anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic activities in vitro in human platelets.  Glycolipids and phospholipids inhibited strongly platelet aggregation induced by platelet-activating factor (PAF)  or thrombin, with IC50 (half maximal inhibitory concentration) values ranging ~60–110 µg of polar lipids. The  characterisation of the glycolipids revealed the presence of sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerols (SQDG), monogalactosylodiglycerides (MGDG) and glycosphingolipids (cerebrosides and ceramides). Phospholipids contained  mostly bioactive phosphatidylcholines (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) molecules such as, diacyl-PC,  diacyl-PE, alkyl-acyl PC, and alkyl-acyl-PE, as well as considerable amounts of phosphatidylglycerols (PG),  phosphatidylinositols (PI), phosphatidylserines (PS), and phosphatidic acids (PA). The total presence of such  lipid bioactives with cardio-protective properties makes marine Spirulina subsalsa a candidate as a sustainable  source for health supplements with cardiovascular health benefits.