Abstract
Marine algae are an important source of bioactive metabolites in drug development and nutraceuticals. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder and the third leading cause of death worldwide due to lifestyle changes associated with rapid urbanization. Due to the adverse side effects of currently available antidiabetic drugs, search for an effective natural-based antidiabetic drug is important to combat diabetes and its complications. Therefore, in lieu with herbal drug development, it is important to find the potential benefits of seaweeds for the management of type 2 diabetes as they are underexplored yet in Sri Lanka. Among the marine seaweeds, natural bioactive compounds are abundant in brown algae with potentials in application as active ingredients in drug leads and nutraceuticals. Bioactive secondary metabolites are derived from numerous biosynthetic pathways of marine algae which contribute to various chemical and biological properties. Phlorotannins present in marine brown algae exhibited antidiabetic activities through different mechanisms such as the inhibitory effect of enzyme targets mainly by inhibiting the enzymes such as α-amylase, α-glucosidase, angiotensin-converting enzymes (ACE), aldose reductase, dipeptidyl peptidase-4, and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP 1B) enzyme. In addition, phlorotannins derived from brown algae have the ability to reduce diabetic complications. Hence, the present review focuses on the different antidiabetic mechanisms of secondary bioactive compounds present in marine brown algae.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder linked with chronic hyperglycaemia due to the relative or absolute deficiency in insulin hormone [1]
Brown algae are a rich source of bioactive compounds which exhibit significant health-promoting properties
Most brown algal species from family Lessoniaceae has been studied for their antidiabetic activity in addition to the brown algal species from family Ishigeaceae, Sargassaceae, Fucaceae, Laminariaceae, Alariaceae, and Dictyotaceae
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder linked with chronic hyperglycaemia due to the relative or absolute deficiency in insulin hormone [1]. Type 1 DM is associated with an absolute deficiency of insulin due to the autoimmune destruction of beta cells of the pancreas, which normally secrete insulin, whereas type 2 DM is associated with a relative deficiency of insulin due to the insulin resistance caused by an unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, and obesity [3]. Both types of DM have different clinical and pathological features. The purpose of this review is to focus on the diverse antidiabetic mechanisms of brown algal compounds and their possible use in pharmaceutical industry
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