C:\Users\Hp\AppData\Local\Temp\msoA0CE.tmp Introduction Thousands of people in Bangladesh, at present, are suffering from arsenical keratosis. Keratosis occurs in palms and soles. The involvement of palm and sole is always bilateral, that is, either both palms or soles or both palms and soles (Misbahuddin et al., 2011). The presence of keratosis in palm is a social problem, particularly in young unmarried girl. Arsenical keratosis can be treated by either topical administration of drug or oral administration of dietary supplement or both. Topical administration of salicylic acid (Islam et al., 2007) or propylene glycol (Dina and Misbahuddin, 2010) improves the symptoms by soothing effect. Oral administration of beta-carotene, retinol (Hall, 1946), ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, zinc (Kamaluddin and Misbahuddin, 2006), selenium (Nasir et al., 2002), folic acid, alpha-lipoic acid (Tabassum, 2006), spirulina (Fariduddin et al., 2001; Misbahuddin et al., 2006), spinach (Umar, 2007) and corn (Chow- dhury et al., 2009) can reduce body arsenic load and improve clinical symptoms in skin manifestation in both experiment animal models and patients. These orally administered dietary supplementations are used either alone or in combination. However, longer dura- tion (3-12 months) of treatment is required which ultimately affects patient's adherence. Stoppage of this supplementation recurs the symptoms of keratosis. $�-RXUQDO�RI�WKH�%DQJODGHVK�3KDUPDFRORJLFDO�6RFLHW\��%'36� %DQJODGHVK�-�3KDUPDFRO������������-�� -RXUQDO�KRPHSDJH��ZZZ�EDQJODMRO�LQIR��ZZZ�EGMSKDUPDFRO�FRP $EVWUDFWHG�LQGH[HG� LQ $FDGHPLF� 6HDUFK� &RPSOHWH� $JURIRUHVWU\� $EVWUDFWV�� $VLD� -RXUQDOV� 2QOLQH�� %DQJODGHVK� -RXUQDOV� 2QOLQH�� %LRORJLFDO� $EVWUDFWV�� %,26,6� 3UHYLHZV�� &$%� $EVWUDFWV�� &XUUHQW� $EVWUDFWV��'LUHFWRU\� RI� 2SHQ� $FFHVV� -RXUQDOV�� (0%$6(�([FHUSWD�0HGLFD��*RRJOH� 6FKRODU��+,1$5,� �:+2��� ,QWHUQDWLRQDO�3KDUPDFHXWLFDO�$EVWUDFWV��2SHQ�--JDWH� 6FLHQFH�&LWDWLRQ�,QGH[�([SDQGHG��6&2386�DQG�6RFLDO�6FLHQFHV�&LWDWLRQ�,QGH[� ,661������-����� Effect of spirulina on the levels of zinc, vitamin E and linoleic acid in the palm skin extracts of people with prolonged exposure to arsenic 0LU�0LVEDKXGGLQ�DQG��0XQLUD�$IULQ 'LYLVLRQ�RI�$UVHQLF�5HVHDUFK��'HSDUWPHQW�RI�3KDUPDFRORJ\��)DFXOW\�RI�%DVLF�0HGLFDO�6FLHQFH�DQG�3DUDFOLQLFDO� 6FLHQFH��%DQJDEQDGKX�6KHLNK�0XMLE�0HGLFDO�8QLYHUVLW\��6KDKEDJ��'KDND��%DQJODGHVK� $EVWUDFW Spirulina, a dietary supplement, improves the symptoms of arsenical palmer keratosis. To understand its mechanism of action, palm skin extracts of moderate palmer arsenical keratosis (n = 10), arsenic exposed controls (n = 10) and healthy volunteers (n = 10) were collected before and after treatment with spirulina powder 10 g/day orally for 12 weeks. The mean ± SD amount of zinc in the palm skin of healthy volunteers was 13.1 ± 5.7 ng/cm2, which was not changed significantly in patients (11.3 ± 5.3 ng/cm2). The amount of vitamin E in healthy volunteers was 6.0 ± 0.3� QJ�FP2 which was severely reduced in patients (3.5 ± 0.6 ng/cm2). The amount of linoleic acid was lowered in patient (26.7 ± 17.1 ng/cm2) which was statistically significant in comparison to healthy volunteers (p = 0.029). After supplementation of spirulina, zinc level in the palm skin of arsenic exposed controls was increased but it was not statistically significant (p = 0.068). The vitamin E and linoleic acid levels were not changed significantly in the skin of palm. In conclusion, arsenical keratosis showed significantly low levels of vitamin E and linoleic acid without any significant change in zinc level. After supplementation of spirulina, low levels of these three compounds were not returned towards the normal levels. $UWLFOH�,QIR Received: 16 January 2013 Accepted: 18 January 2013 Available Online: 8 February 2013 DOI: 10.3329/bjp.v8i1.13694 Cite this article: Misbahuddin M, Afrin M. Effect of spirulina on the levels of zinc, vitamin E and linoleic acid in the palm skin extracts of people with prolonged exposure to arsenic. Bangladesh J Pharmacol. 2013; 8: 84-91. 7KLV�ZRUN�LV�OLFHQVHG�XQGHU�D�&UHDWLYH�&RPPRQV�$WWULEXWLRQ�����/LFHQVH��50 µg/L). A house of a patient was used as a temporary Arsenic Camp. At first 25 patients were selected randomly (computer generated serial number) from the record book of the Matlab Upazilla Health Complex. After inclusion and exclusion criteria, only 14 patients were finally diagnosed clinically as moderate palmer keratosis by a dermatologist. Considering the cost of the study, we finally selected 10 patients at random. Ten arsenic expo- sed controls were selected from the family members (1 or 2 from each family) of those patients. Ten healthy volunteers were selected from the same Upazilla. Inclusion criteria The age range of the participants were 20-40 years. Both males and females were included. In case of arsenicosis patients, the inclusion criteria were: a) moderate palmer keratosis, b) drank arsenic contaminated water (>50 µg/L) for at least 6 months, c) voluntarily agreed to participate in this study. The inclusion criteria for arsenic exposed controls were: a) drank arsenic conta- minated water (>50 µg/L) for at least 6 months, b) no skin manifestation, c) voluntarily agreed to participate. In case of healthy volunteers, the inclusion criteria were: a) drank arsenic safe water (<50 µg/L), b) no skin manifestation, and c) voluntarily agreed to participate in this study. Moderate keratosis means palpable and visible wart as keratosis (>2 to 5 mm), appearing mainly or exclusively in a symmetric distribution on palm and sole (Caussy, 2005). Exclusion criteria The exclusion criteria were as follows; a) age <20 and >40 years, b) pregnant and lactating mother, c) any systemic disease, inflammatory disease and infectious condition that affects skin (diabetes mellitus, rheuma- toid arthritis, systemic lupus erythromatosis), and d) patient getting any treatment of arsenicosis during the study period or within the last three months. Spirulina powder Spirulina powder was collected from the Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (a government organization). 150 g of spirulina powder was given to each participant in a container supplied with a plastic cup size holding 10 g of spirulina powder. Spirulina was supplied to each participant at 2 weeks interval. Every participant was advised to take a cup of spirulina powder mixed with rice during launch for 12 weeks. Compliance of the patient was assured by checking the empty container, while refiling spirulina in the next visit as well as frequent in touch with the patient using mobile phone. Collection of samples Drinking water (50 mL) and urine (50 mL) were collec- ted in plastic container from the participants before starting the study to confirm the diagnosis as patient, arsenic exposed control or healthy volunteer. One drop of nitric acid was added to each container as a preservative. Skin extractions were collected in a glass container (10 mL size) from both the sites of the palm and dorsum of right hand of each participant (Figure 1A). A mixture of two organic solvents chloroform:ethanol (2:1 v/v) was prepared. A glass container containing 4 mL of solvents was delineated over selected sites of the skin surface (area: 3.14 cm2) for 5 min (Figure 1A), and was pressed tightly by manual pressure and then removed (Figure 1B). The extracted solution was then kept for analysis of zinc, vitamin E and linoleic acid levels. Skin extracts from the palm and dorsum of the Bangladesh J Pharmacol 2013; 8: 84-91 85 hand of each participant were collected twice (before and after intervention) at the field level. The samples (skin extract, water and urine) were carried out on the same day to the laboratory in a container maintaining about -4°C temperature. Finally samples were kept at - 20°C before estimation. Ethical consideration The ethical issue of this study was reviewed and approved by the Ethical Committee of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. Data collection After taking the informed written consent, detailed history was taken by interview and clinical examinations were done focusing on arsenical palmer keratosis of the participants. All information of the study were recorded in data sheet. Estimation of arsenic (AOAC, 1975) Estimation of arsenic in water and urine samples were done by silver diethyldithiocarbamate (SDDC) method. In principle, inorganic arsenic was reduced to arsine (AsH3) by zinc in strong acid solution in an arsine generator. The arsine was then passed through a scrubber containing cotton wool moistened with lead acetate into an absorber tube containing SDDC dissolved in chloroform. The arsine reacted with the silver salt, forming a soluble red color complex whose absorbance was read in a spectrophotometer (UV-VIS Spectrophotometer-1201, Shimadzu, Japan) at 525 nm. Estimation of zinc (Fuwa et al., 1964) The amount of zinc in the skin extract was estimated by atomic absorption spectrometer. Zinc lamp (Buck Scientific, USA) was used with lamp current 2.0 mA, slit setting 0.7 nm, mode air/acetylene absorbance with wavelength of 213.9 nm. Estimation of vitamin E (Baker and Frank, 1968) Vitamin E was estimated by reduction of ferric to ferrous ions which then formed a red complex with α, α’-dipyridyl. Tocopherols and carotenes were first extracted into dichloromethane and the absorbance of blank was read at 460 nm to measure carotenes. A correction of carotenes was made after adding ferric chloride and absorbance was recorded at 520 nm. Estimation of linoleic acid (Stein et al., 1992; Dann and Moore, 1933) The chromatographic system (ESA Biosciences, Inc., Chelmsford, USA) consisted of Model 210 Varian- Prostar solvent delivery module, ESA Model 520 UV/ Vis Detector, Rheodyne model 7725 injector with a 20 µL loop (Rheodyne Inc., Cotati, CA, USA) and Model DG4 degasser. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a Kromasil C18 reversed-phase column (4.6 mm × 250 mm ID, 5 μm particle size (Eka Chemicals, Bohus, 86 Bangladesh J Pharmacol 2013; 8: 84-91 $ % & ' Figure 1: Sites from which the skin extract were collected. A) palmer side (area 3.14 cm2); B) dorsum side (area 3.14 cm2). Proce- dure of extraction of zinc, vitamin E and linoleic acid from skin. C) before extraction (the solvent of chloroform and ethanol was not in touch of the skin); D) during extraction (the solvent of chloroform and ethanol was in touch of the skin) for 5 min Sweden). The mobile phase was acetonitrile-metha- nol-water 82:05:13 (v/v), which was filtered through a 0.45 μm membrane filter (Millipore), and then degassed ultrasonically prior to use. The amount of linoleic acid in the product of trans-esterification of collected samples was analyzed by RP-HPLC with UV detector. The flow rate was 1.2 mL/min, the injection volume was 20 μL, the column temperature was maintained at 50°C and UV wavelength was set at 242 nm. Linoleic acid was identified by comparing its retention time with that of the respective standard (F.A.M.E mix C14-C22) as well as cross-comparing with sunflower oil and soybean oil specimens as they contain highest concentration (%) of linoleic acid. Quantification was carried out by the integration of area under the curve (AUC) with the help of the software EZchrom Elite (Scientific Software, Inc). Calculation of linoleic acid concentration was done manually from AUC of known standards. Statistical analysis One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed for comparisons among groups and paired Student's 't' test was used for comparisons before and after treatment with spirulina. The data were expressed as mean ± SD. Results The mean amounts (± SD) of arsenic in the drinking water of patients, arsenic exposed controls and Bangladesh J Pharmacol 2013; 8: 84-91 87 Table I Selected characteristics of the participants Characteristics Patients Arsenic exposed controls Healthy volunteers Number 10 10 10 Age (Year) 33.8 ± 6.3 33.3 ± 5.7 32.5 ± 7.3 Male: Female 4:6 6:4 7:3 Amount of arsenic in tube well water (µg/L) 646.5 ± 148.0 646.5 ± 148.0 35.1 ± 4.1 Duration of arsenic exposure (Year) 18.8 ± 5.4 13.5 ± 4.4 - Duration of symptoms (Year) 5.0 ± 2.5 - - Amount of arsenic in spot urine (µg/L) 577.0 ± 125.9 77.1 ± 27.8 Non-detectable level Data were presented as mean ± SD; patients and arsenic exposed controls had same source of drinking water Table II Baseline zinc, vitamin E and linoleic acid levels at palm and dorsum skin of patients, arsenic exposed controls and healthy volunteers Group Zinc level Vitamin E Mean ± SD p value Mean ± SD p value Mean ± SD p value Palm skin Patients (P) 11.3 ± 5.3 0.330 3.5 ± 0.6 0.000 26.7 ± 17.1 0.114 Arsenic exposed controls (A) 9.7 ± 3.8 5.6 ± 0.3 46.2 ± 39.2 Healthy volunteers (H) 13.1 ± 5.7 6.0 ± 0.3 59.5 ± 40.5 P vs A 0.452 0.000 0.167 P vs H 0.458 0.000 0.030 A vs H 0.131 0.006 0.464 Dorsum skin Patients (P) 8.0 ± 2.5 0.069 3.4 ± 0.6 0.000 26.3 ± 15.5 0.018 Arsenic exposed controls (A) 9.9 ± 3.5 3.7 ± 0.6 34.6 ± 22.8 Healthy volunteers (H) 12.0 ± 4.7 5.9 ± 0.6 60.0 ± 35.1 P vs A 0.178 0.372 0.356 P vs H 0.030 0.000 0.012 A vs H 0.285 0.000 0.071 Linoleic acid level healthy volunteers were 646.5 ± 148.0, 646.5 ± 148.0, 35.1 ± 4.1 µg/L respectively; Table I). Patients and arsenic exposed controls drunk water from the same tube well but the amounts of arsenic detected in spot urine were 577.0 ± 125.9 µg/L in patients, 77.1 ± 27.8 µg/L in arsenic exposed controls, non-detectable level in healthy volunteers. The mean duration of arsenic exposure was 18.8 ± 5.4 years in patients and 13.5 ± 4.4 years in arsenic exposed controls. The mean duration of appearance of symptoms in patients was 5.0 ± 2.5 years. The palm skin of patients and arsenic exposed controls showed significant change in the amounts of vitamin E whereas the dorsum skin showed significant change in both vitamin E and linoleic acid levels (Table II). There were no change in the amount of zinc, vitamin E and linoleic acid in the palm skins of patients, arsenic exposed controls and healthy volunteers following supplementation of spirulina for 12 weeks (Table III-V). Significant changes were observed in the vitamin E and linoleic acid levels of the dorsum skin of arsenic exposed controls. Discussion This study shows that amounts of vitamin E and 88 Bangladesh J Pharmacol 2013; 8: 84-91 Table III Effect of spirulina on the amounts of zinc in the palm and dorsum skins of patients, arsenic exposed controls and healthy volunteers (mean ± SD) Group n Amount of zinc in palm skin (ng/cm2) Percent increase/ decrease p value Amount of zinc in dor- sum skin (ng/cm2) Percent increase/ decrease Before treatment After treatment Before treatment After treatment Patients 10 11.3 ± 5.3 10.6 ± 5.7 ↓6.2% 0.773 8.0 ± 2.5 9.3 ± 4.7 ↑16.3% 0.454 Arsenic exposed controls 10 9.7 ± 3.8 14.0 ± 5.7 ↑43.3% 0.068 9.9 ± 3.5 9.5 ± 5.4 ↓4.0% 0.788 Healthy volun- teers 10 13.1 ± 5.7 12.6 ± 3.5 ↓3.8% 0.808 12.0 ± 4.7 10.1 ± 3.2 ↓15.8% 0.312 p value Table IV Effect of spirulina on the amounts of vitamin E in the palm and dorsum skins of patients, arsenic exposed controls and healthy volunteers Group n Amount of vitamin E in palm skin ( ng/cm2) Percent increase/ decrease p value Amount of vitamin E in dorsum skin ( ng/cm2) Percent increase/ decrease Before treatment After treatment Before treatment After treatment Patients 10 3.5 ± 0.6 3.9 ± 0.6 ↑11.4 0.085 3.4 ± 0.6 3.6 ± 0.6 ↑5.8 0.491 Arsenic exposed controls 10 5.6 ± 0.3 5.8 ± 0.3 ↑3.5 0.111 3.7 ± 0.6 4.1 ± 0.3 ↑10.8 0.055 Healthy volun- teers 10 6.0 ± 0.3 6.0 ± 0.0 � 0.704 5.9 ± 0.6 6.1 ± 0.6 ↑3.3 0.472 p value Table V Effect of spirulina on the amounts of linoleic acid in the palm and dorsum skins of patients, arsenic exposed controls and healthy volunteers Group n Amount of linoleic acid in palm skin (ng/cm2) Percent increase/ decrease p value Amount of linoleic acid in dorsum skin (ng/ cm2) Percent increase/ decrease Before treatment After treatment Before treatment After treatment Patients 10 26.7 ± 17.1 31.9 ± 15.5 ↑19.4 0.482 26.3 ± 15.5 35.5 ± 27.2 ↑35.0 0.369 Arsenic exposed controls 10 46.2 ± 39.2 61.3 ± 35.7 ↑32.7 0.378 34.6 ± 22.8 61.1 ± 28.8 ↑76.6 0.035 Healthy volun- teers 10 59.5 ± 40.5 84.4 ± 39.5 ↑41.8 0.179 60.0 ± 35.1 83.6 ± 30.7 ↑39.3 0.124 p value linoleic acid in the palm skin of patients were low in comparison to health volunteers and arsenic exposed controls (Figure 2). However, the zinc level was not affected significantly. The amount of zinc, vitamin E and linoleic acid in the dorsum skin of patients were low in comparison to healthy volunteers and arsenic exposed controls. After supplementation of spirulina for 12 weeks, there were no significant increase in the level of zinc, vitamin E and linoleic acid level both in palm and dorsum skin. On arsenic exposure, there were no significant decrease in zinc and linoleic acid level in both palm and dorsum skin. But significant decrease in vitamin E levels in both the sites. After supplemen- tation of spirulina, palmer skin shows no significant increase in zinc, vitamin E and linoleic acid. But dorsum skin shows significant increase in linoleic acid level. When a person is consuming high concentration of arsenic chronically until the appearance of skin manifestation, then the skin of both palm and dorsum shows low amount of vitamin E without significant change in either zinc or linoleic acid levels. Arsenic produces oxidative stress (Wu et al., 2001) which ultimately affects vitamin E. Vitamin E is a lipid soluble anti-oxidant whereas zinc is a water soluble anti- oxidant. It is well-known that vitamin E protects long- chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and thus maintain their concentrations for important signaling events (Traber and Atkinson, 2007). That is why, vitamin E level is decreased without affecting the fatty acid level like linoleic acid. In patient of palmer arsenical keratosis, the vitamin E level is further decreased and the normal level of linoleic acid is not maintained. Linoleic acid level is low. However, zinc level is not affected significantly. But it is quite interesting that the dorsum skin of patient cannot maintain the normal zinc level. That is, at the site of keratosis, the level of zinc is maintained to normal level. Our previous study shows that the secretion of vitamin E from the site of skin having melanosis is higher in arsenic-exposed control and highest in patient (Yousuf et al., 2011). There is no data about the secretion of vitamin E and zinc from the palm of the patient and arsenic exposed control. Increased secretion of vitamin E from the palm skin, like the skin having melanosis, may be responsible for the low level of vitamin E in patient and arsenic exposed control. Similarly chronic intake of arsenic leads to several folds higher secretion of zinc from the site of skin having melanosis both in patients and in arsenic-exposed controls (Yousuf et al., 2011). One molecule of arsenic appears to be co-secreted with two molecules of zinc. It is quite natural to think that zinc level in the skin of palm must be low. In this study, low level of zinc is only observed in the dorsum skin of arsenic exposed controls. It remains unclear. Spirulana is a superfood. It contains zinc, vitamin E and linoleic acid. So, it is quite natural to think that supplementation will increase the amount zinc, vitamin E and linoleic acid in skin. Surprisingly, these substances are not increased even in healthy skin. Only linoleic acid level is increased in the dorsum skin of arsenic exposed controls. Supplementation with spirulina shows clinical improvement of keratosis (Misbahuddin et al., 2006). Our present study shows that there is no significant increase in the level of zinc, vitamin E and linoleic acid in the palmer as well as dorsum skin. When a healthy person consumes chronically high concentration arsenic, then he/she develops at first mild keratosis, which subsequently deteriorated to form moderate and severe keratosis. If the pathological process continues, then malignancy develops. If we Bangladesh J Pharmacol 2013; 8: 84-91 89 Ļ9LWDPLQ�( 3DOP�RI�DUVHQLF��� H[SRVHG�FRQWURO Ļ9LWDPLQ�( 'RUVXP�VNLQ�RI�DUVHQLF� H[SRVHG�FRQWURO Ļ=LQF Ļ9LWDPLQ�( Ļ/LQROHLF�DFLG 'RUVXP�VNLQ�RI� SDWLHQW Ļ9LWDPLQ�( Ļ/LQROHLF�DFLG 3DOPHU�DUVHQLFDO� NHUDWRVLV Figure 2: The levels of zinc, vitamin E and linoleic acid in the palmer and dorsum skins of patient and arsenic exposed control understand the pathological process of development of malignancy, then we can stop this skin manifestation following chronic consumption of arsenic. There are two peculiarities in the skin manifestations of Bangladeshi following chronic consumption of high concentration of arsenic. First, keratosis develops only at the palm or sole without affecting the skin of the rest of the body. Second, basal cell carcinoma is not common; instead a few cases of Bowen's disease are reported. In addition, all the members of a family consuming high concentration of arsenic but one or two may develop skin manifestations. We do not have the explanation of these two observations. Our diets have some unidentified components that may protect us from the consequences of consuming high concentration of arsenic. Patients and arsenic exposed controls drunk water from same tube well but the amounts of arsenic detected in spot urine were several fold higher in patients than in arsenic exposed controls. The risk for skin lesions in relation to the arsenic exposure estimates based on urinary arsenic was elevated more than 3-fold (Ahsan et al., 2000). Our sample size is small. Further studies are required before drawing any conclusion. Conclusion Chronic arsenic exposure leads to low level of vitamin E in the skin of palm. In case of palmer keratosis, there is increased utilization of vitamin E followed by low amount of linoleic acid. Zinc level may have a role in the development of palmer keratosis. 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