Study of the Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant Properties, and In Vitro Anti-Diabetic Efficacy of Gracilaria bursa-pastoris Extracts

Abstract

In this study, a comparison was made of the chemical makeup of different extracts obtained from Gracilaria bursa-pastoris, a type of red seaweed that was gathered from the Nador lagoon situated in the northern part of Morocco. Additionally, their anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties were investigated. The application of GC-MS technology to analyze the fatty acid content of the samples revealed that linoleic acid and eicosenoic acid were the most abundant unsaturated fatty acids across all samples, with palmitic acid and oleic acid following in frequency. The HPLC analysis indicated that ascorbic and kojic acids were the most prevalent phenolic compounds, while apigenin was the most common flavonoid molecule. The aqueous extract exhibited significant levels of polyphenols and flavonoids, registering values of 381.31 ± 0.33 mg GAE/g and 201.80 ± 0.21 mg QE/g, respectively. Furthermore, this particular extract demonstrated a remarkable ability to scavenge DPPH radicals, as evidenced by its IC50 value of 0.17 ± 0.67 mg/mL. In addition, the methanolic extract was found to possess antioxidant properties, as evidenced by its ability to prevent β-carotene discoloration, with an IC50 ranging from 0.062 ± 0.02 mg/mL to 0.070 ± 0.06 mg/mL. In vitro study showed that all extracts significantly inhibited the enzymatic activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Finally, molecular docking models were applied to assess the interaction between the primary phytochemicals identified in G. bursa-pastoris extracts and the human pancreatic α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. The findings suggest that these extracts contain bioactive substances capable of reducing enzyme activity more effectively than the commercially available drug acarbose.

Chemical Analysis of the Antihyperglycemic, and Pancreatic α-Amylase, Lipase, and Intestinal α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities of Cannabis sativa L. Seed Extracts

“…The experimental protocol was conducted as defined by Bouhrim et al [ 51 , 54 ]. This research utilized normal rats with a body weight between 180 and 200 g. The animals were fasted for 16 h before being split into three experimental groups; the healthy rats were randomly assigned, while the diabetic rats were categorized according to their glucose levels.…”

“…Inhibition of Pancreatic α-Amylase Assessed In Vitro Ouahabi et al established a strategy for investigating the in vitro inhibition on pancreatic α-amylase [51] with certain adjustments. The experimental mixtures consisted of 200 µL of a phosphate buffer solution (0.02 M; pH = 6.9) and 200 µL of an α-amylase enzyme solution.…”

Analyzing the Bioactive Properties and Volatile Profiles Characteristics of Opuntia dillenii (Ker Gawl.) Haw: Exploring its Potential for Pharmacological Applications

“…The optimal docking arrangement for each ligand was pinpointed and recorded, representing the pose associated with the minimum Glide score value. [46,48] Highlights * The research centered on investigating the chemical composition, the antioxidant, and the anti-inflammatory activity of oils and pulpy variants (Imatchan, Harmocha, and Aknari) sourced from O. dillenii. The investigation encompassed both in vitro and in silico analyses.…”

Algae-Derived Natural Products in Diabetes and Its Complications—Current Advances and Future Prospects

“…Continuing research is needed to unravel the specific mechanisms of action of algae extracts and identify the active components responsible for their effects. Harnessing the potential of algae-derived natural products for improving insulin secretion and sensitivity holds great promise for the development of novel therapeutic interventions for diabetes [ 88 ].…”