Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activity of Algae

Abstract

Currently, algae arouse a growing interest in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic area due to the fact that they have a great diversity of bioactive compounds with the potential for pharmacological and nutraceutical applications. Due to lifestyle modifications brought on by rapid urbanization, diabetes mellitus, a metabolic illness, is the third largest cause of death globally. The hunt for an efficient natural-based antidiabetic therapy is crucial to battling diabetes and the associated consequences due to the unfavorable side effects of currently available antidiabetic medications. Finding the possible advantages of algae for the control of diabetes is crucial for the creation of natural drugs. Many of algae's metabolic processes produce bioactive secondary metabolites, which give algae their diverse chemical and biological features. Numerous studies have demonstrated the antioxidant and antidiabetic benefits of algae, mostly by blocking carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzyme activity, such as α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Additionally, bioactive components from algae can lessen diabetic symptoms in vivo. Therefore, the current review concentrates on the role of various secondary bioactive substances found naturally in algae and their potential as antioxidants and antidiabetic materials, as well as the urgent need to apply these substances in the pharmaceutical industry.

Keywords: algal treatments; antihyperglycemic; antioxidant; body weight; diabetes; lipid profile.

Figure 1

Types of diabetes mellitus and their syndrome.

Figure 2

The major complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Figure 3

The relationship between rates of oxidant generation, antioxidant activity, oxidative stress, and oxidative damage in diabetes. O₂^•− represents various forms of ROS. The overall rate of formation of oxidative products, which lead to oxidative tissue damage, is dependent on ambient levels of both O₂^•− and substrate. Increased generation of O₂^•− depends on several sources, including glucose autoxidation, increased mitochondrial superoxide production, and increased endoplasmic reticulum superoxide production, as well as the result of the receptor for advanced glycosylation end product activation. O₂^•− deactivation is reduced because antioxidant defenses are compromised in diabetes. Note that oxidative stress also promotes other hyperglycemia-induced mechanisms of tissue damage. Additionally, oxidative stress activates protein kinase C (PKC) and accelerates the formation of advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs), RAGE: Receptor for AGEs.

Figure 4

Microalgae species images: (a)—Arthrospira platensis (Cya); (b)—Chlorella vulgaris (Chl); (c) Nannochloropsis (Eus); (Cya)—Cyanobacteria; (Chl)—Chlorophyta; (Eus)—Eustigmatophyceae. Scale = 10 μm.

Figure 5

Seaweed species images: (a)—Ulva lactuca (C); (b)—Fucus spiralis (P); (c)—Taonia atomaria (P); (d)—Padina pavonica (P); (e)—Jania rubens (R); (f)—Pterocladiella capillacea (R); (g)—Chondrus crispus (R); (h)—Ulva intestinalis (P); (i)—Chaetomorpha aerea C); (j)—Cladophora rupestris (C); (k)—Fucus vesiculosus (P); (l)—Porphyra (R); (m)—Polycladia myrica (P); (n)—Padina boergesenii (P); (C)—Chlorophyta; (R)—Rhodophyta; (P)—Phaeophyceae.