During the present study, ethanol extracts of five seaweed species Solieria robusta, Iyengaria stellata, Colpomenia sinuosa, Spatoglossum asperum and Caulerpa racemosa at 10 mg/ 200 g body weight were tested for their hypolipidaemic activity. All the species significantly decreased the serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in normal, triton-induced and diet-induced hyperlipidaemic rats. Solieria robusta was found to be the most effective in reducing the lipid profile, particularly in diet-induced hyperlipidaemic rats. A beneficial effect of the ethanol extract of S. asperum was also found on cardiac and liver enzymes in diet-induced hyperlipidaemic rats.

A total of 22 ethanol extracts of seaweed species (13 brown, 6 green and 3 red) collected from the Karachi coast were investigated for brine shrimp cytotoxicity. Of all the species, only six namely Stoechospermum marginatum, Sargassum swartzii, S. binderi, Spatoglossum asperum, Stokeyia indica (brown) and Caulerpa racemosa (green) showed significant activity. n-Hexane-soluble fractions of the ethanol extract of S. marginatum and S. swartzii were found to be responsible for the activity, whereas the methanol-soluble fractions of S. asperum and S. binderi were most active. The water extract of S. indica and C. racemosa exhibited the most prominent activity (LC50 value below 70 micrograms/mL) when compared with the ethanol extracts and their fractions. Cytotoxic activity may be due to the compounds differing in polarity.

Chloroform and methanol fractions of an ethanol extract of Spatoglossum asperum showed antifungal activity against the highly destructive plant pathogen, Macrophomina phaseolina while the n-hexane fraction showed activity against Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium solani. n-Hexane and methanol fractions also showed nematicidal activity against the plant parasitic nematode, Meloidogyne javanica. Column chromatography of the ethanol extract of seaweed yielded oily fractions named SA-I to SA-VI. GC-MS data of these oily fractions showed the presence of various fatty acid esters. Some of these oily fractions exhibited strong antifungal and nematicidal activities. Oily fractions of S. asperum also showed hypolipidaemic activity in normal, triton-induced and high fat diet-induced hyperlipidaemic rats without producing any ill effect on cardiac and liver enzymes.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of metabolic risk factors including obesity, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension. MS in obese and type 2 diabetic (T2DM) subjects increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The objective of the present study is to estimate the prevalence of MS in obese T2DM subjects by using International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) definitions. Methods: Obese T2DM (n=70) and normal healthy subjects (n=30) of both genders were selected from hospitals and diabetic centers of various localities of Karachi, Pakistan. The frequency of MS was estimated by utilizing criteria of the proposed definitions of IDF and NCEP-ATP III. Results: The prevalence of MS using IDF definition in obeseT2DM subjects was 85.7%. It is significantly higher (p≤0.05) in females (45.70%) as compared to males (30.0%). While, using NCEP-ATP III definition the overall prevalence of MS in obese T2DM subjects was 75.7%, the prevalence is significantly higher (p≤0.05) in females (47.1%) than males (38.6%). The development of MS was highly observed between 31-40 years of age under criteria of both definitions. Conclusion It is concluded that, the overall prevalence of MS is increasing significantly in obese T2DM subjects by using IDF and NCEP-ATP III definitions. However, IDF is more stringent for defining MS. Therefore, it is needed to initiate the preventive measures of a healthy lifestyle and emphasis should be given to reduce weight, increase physical activity, and increase intake of healthy low-glycemic-index foods.

Glycemic control is a very useful parameter for the prevention of the chronic metabolic diseases complications such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular and kidney disease. Glycemic control management among chronic metabolic diseases has been an area of active research from the past decades. The glycemic index specifies that how fasting blood glucose level is elevated after consuming a high carbohydrate-containing diet. The metabolic studies among the human populations showed that glycemic index is directly related with different chronic metabolic diseases. The sturdiest associations are suggested that the low caloric diet consumption can prevents metabolic complications. Primary and tight glycemic control is compulsory to prevent and reduce the development of vascular complications in individuals with chronic disorders. The aim of this review was to provide a practical guideline on the bases of the survey of the related key studies which had reflected the clinical guidelines and current perspectives related to glycemic management. The objective of this review is also to investigate the interventions, related to glycemic control in patients with diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. In conclusion, we can say that multidisciplinary management of glycemic control are powerful measure for the prevention of metabolic diseases complications, providing necessary support for reducing in economic burden of chronic metabolic diseases.