A retrospective review of marine algae and the strategies employed for prospective diabetes management
Andhere Animish, M. A. Jayasri
Abstract
The prevalence of diabetes increases with each passing day, making it essential to develop novel, cost-effective, and side-effect-free alternatives for managing and controlling the disease. Since marine algae are universally distributed and have a sustainable nature with a plurality of applications, marine algae-derived bioactive isolates give many possibilities for controlling complex blood-glucose dynamics in diabetes. The current review highlights significant studies on the antihyperglycemic properties of marine algae and looks into the therapeutic effects of their metabolites. In addition, the review discusses specific mechanisms that are the primary goals of various diabetic investigations. The algal bioactive compounds are proven effective using in vitro and in vivo studies by inhibiting multiple diabetic enzymes, reducing histopathological damage, and improving serum parameters while also exhibiting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, and other therapeutic effects. Our review also provides information on the habitat distribution of 83 macroalgal species to identify the potential areas for collecting marine algae in future studies. It also provides a quick overview of which algal classes have been studied using which antidiabetic mechanism. Extensive studies demonstrating different therapeutic bioactivities recommend that seaweeds sustain an essential array of physiologically active chemicals and bioactive isolates, providing a wide range of options for managing the intricacies of blood-sugar fluctuations in diabetes. This review highlights the potential of using marine algal metabolites as antidiabetic drugs.