In Vivo Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity and Protective Action of the Seaweed Gracilaria birdiae

Abstract

The red seaweed Gracilaria birdiae (GB) is farmed and used as food in northeast Brazil. However, the economic potential of this seaweed has been explored little. To enable direct consumption and/or product diversification from GB, it is necessary to evaluate its effect in vivo. In this study, the food of mice was improved with the addition of GB. After 21 days, the consumption of seaweed reduced the weight gain and blood glucose levels in mice. In addition, it increased the trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and glutathione reductase and catalase levels compared to those of the control group. In addition, some mice also received carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). In this case, histological, enzymatic, and antioxidant tests showed that the seaweed could protect animals from damage caused by this toxic agent. In addition, GB aqueous extract (AE) inhibited 50% of 3T3-L1 cell differentiation into adipocytes, whereas GB ethanolic extract was not effective. AE is composed mainly of sulfated polysaccharides. The results of the present study indicate that the alga GB protected the mice from CCl4-induced damage, indicating that the seaweed exhibits protective action in vivo. In addition, GB decreased the animal weight gain, which was mainly due to the action of the sulfated polysaccharides synthesized by this seaweed.

Current Trends on Seaweeds: Looking at Chemical Composition, Phytopharmacology, and Cosmetic Applications

“…A diet rich in fucoxanthin, which is present in edible brown seaweeds such as Eisenia bicyclis and Undaria pinnatifida , could significantly reverse the white adipose tissue weight gain in fat mice and ameliorate blood glucose levels [290]. Similar results were reported for sulfated polysaccharides present in red seaweeds Gracilaria birdiae and Plocamium telfairiae , mainly due to their ability to decrease the rate of differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells into adipocytes [291,292]. Supplementation by the aqueous extract of the green seaweed Ulva lactuca rich in sulfated polysaccharide was effective in attenuating lipid peroxidation process and therefore decreasing TG, LDL, and VLDL and increasing HDL [293].…”

Antioxidant Sulfated Polysaccharide from Edible Red Seaweed Gracilaria birdiae is an Inhibitor of Calcium Oxalate Crystal Formation

“…After 21 days, the consumption of seaweed reduced the body weight gain and blood glucose levels in mice. In addition, it increased the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, glutathione reductase, and catalase levels compared to those of the control group [3], which indicated that the oxidative stress of the animals was reduced due to the consumption of seaweed. Several papers have shown that seaweeds are also good sources of various bioactive compounds, many of which have a pharmaceutical potential [4,5].…”

Effect of extraction method on the chemical profiles and bioactivities of soybean hull polysaccharides

“…Compared with the MC group, the number and scale of fat vacuoles in the polysaccharide treatment groups (A‐Pro, S‐Pro, and H‐Pro) were reduced. A‐SSCP was the most effective polysaccharide, yielding an approximately normal hepatic appearance with well‐preserved cytoplasm, obvious cell boundaries, with legible nuclei and nucleoli (Barros et al., 2018 ; Chidambaram & Carani Venkatraman, 2010 ; Tian et al., 2012 ). These histopathological results, combined with the antioxidant assays and biochemical tests, suggest that A‐SSCP can protect liver tissue from CCl 4 ‐induced hepatic damage.…”