Assessment of antioxidant and digestive enzyme inhibition by phyco-molecules isolated from marine brown alga Sargassum wightii

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) represents a global endocrine disorder, posing a significant healthcare challenge. The purpose of current research work was to isolate bioactive compounds from the marine brown alga Sargassum wightii using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and Column Chromatography (CC), further characterized by different spectrophotometric analyses. The S. wightii ethyl acetate extract (SWEA), yielded a potential enzyme inhibitory fatty acid molecule, identified as 9-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid. The compound exhibited promising inhibitory activity against diabetic enzymes, with inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 39.08 µg/mL (α-amylase) and 60.1 µg/mL (α-glucosidase). Additionally, 9-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid demonstrated notable radical scavenging properties, with IC50 values of 31.14 µg/mL (DPPH) and 33.09 µg/mL (FRAP). The isolated seaweed compound displayed antioxidant and diabetes enzyme inhibition activities comparable to standard compounds such as ascorbic acid and acarbose. These findings suggest the potential of 9-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid as a novel candidate for anti-diabetic drug development. This research contributes valuable insights for formulating innovative approaches in the design and development of anti-diabetic medications.