Introduction:

Spirulina is an alga used as a food supplement of great importance that has been consumed since ancient times. At present, its hepatoprotective potential, antioxidant activity and anticancer effect among other properties are known. These properties provide better health and thus better quality of life. Currently, liver diseases and cancer have a significant prevalence, becoming a major health problem afflicting humankind. In this regard, the present work is particularly important.

Objective:

To review the pharmacological activity of different Spirulina species related to the hepatoprotective, antioxidant and anticancer effect.

Material and methods:

A rigorous search was carried out in online databases such as Pubmed, Scopus, Medline and EBSCO. Only complete original experimental and clinical works published from 2000 to 2019 were included.

Development:

A total of 2064 related articles were found. Of them, 58 fulfilled the requirements of the present work. Document analysis and cluster grouping were carried out taking into account its pharmacological properties.

Conclusions:

The reviewed articles provide information about the great potential of Spirulina as a hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cytotoxic, antimutagenic, apoptotic and anticancer agent supported in its great variety of nutraceutical content.

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