Antidiabetic Properties of Seaweeds and Future Potentials

Seaweeds are a promising therapeutic target in drug development and nutraceuticals due to the presence of structurally different bioactive constituents in their composition. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major metabolic disorder that causes impaired insulin secretion, insulin action by the pancreas, or both. Despite the currently available synthetic antidiabetic drugs and insulin injections, there is a necessity for an effective natural approach to preventing or managing DM without long-term diabetes complications by eradicating adverse risk factors. Therefore, exploring the anti-diabetic properties of seaweeds has been revealed as an emerging and intact alternative target. Because of the significant contribution of bioactive metabolites in antidiabetic seaweed-based therapeutics, it is important to summarize the determinant factors, including the rich abundance of polyunsaturated fatty acids, minerals, dietary fibers, polyphenolic compounds, and carotenoids. In addition, seaweed extracts and their bioactive elements have anti-diabetic potential as they inhibit carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes in vitro and reduce blood glucose levels in vivo in random and postprandial blood glucose assays. Furthermore, they have been attributed to decreased weight gain in mice and rats, presumably by reducing mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines while raising mRNA expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Their advantageous effect on serum and hepatic lipid profiles, as well as antioxidant enzymes, suggests that seaweeds protect against free radical-mediated oxidative stressinduced hyperglycemia and related hyperlipidemia. Hence, seaweed-based therapeutic efforts for DM have a considerable potential to be used as perspective drugs or dietary supplements. 

Keywords: Anti-diabetic properties, Bioactive compounds, Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Natural therapeutic products, Seaweeds.