Exploring the enzyme inhibitory properties of Antarctic algal extracts

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Abstract Objectives Marine organisms obtained from Antarctica are prominent sources for many important activities. Algae are known for adapting to various adverse environmental conditions and for producing secondary metabolites with various biological activities. This study examined the enzyme inhibitory properties of six different Antarctic algal extracts. Methods We investigated the activity of specific enzymes, including acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), carbonic anhydrase (CA I/II), glutathione reductase (GR), and α-glucosidase (AG), as these enzymes have potential therapeutic applications such as in Alzheimer’s disease, malaria, cancer, and diabetes mellitus. Results The results of the study found that the algal extracts had potent inhibitory effects on these enzymes, with IC50 values ranging from 0.60 to 48.85 μg/mL, indicating that these extracts could be source of potential new drugs. Monostroma harioti and Cystosphaera jacquinotii extracts demonstrated highest AChE and CA I enzymes inhibiton. M. harioti and Desmarestia antarctica extracts presented highest GR enzyme inhibiton, C. jacquinotii and D. antarctica extracts presented highest inhibitory activity against BChE, CA II and α-glucosidase enzymes. Conclusions Extracts of algae samples taken from Antarctica have high enzyme inhibitory activity, and further studies are needed to find out which compounds may be responsible for the effect.