Abstract

Objective: To screen the effect of sulphated galactopyran fraction isolated from Gracilaria opuntia (G. opuntia) (FM4) in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Methods: In vitro antioxidant assays of FM4 were estimated by DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl free radical and Nitric oxide free radical activities. FM4 was purified and characterized by 1H-NMR spectra and FTIR as sulphated galactopyran. Diabetes was induced intraperitonially by single dose of STZ (55 mg/kg body weight). FM4 was administrated orally (80, 100, 125 mg/kg BW) to diabetic rats for 60 days. The enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), lipid peroxidase (LPx), glutathione reduced (GSH), vitamin-C (VIT-C) and vitamin-E (VIT-E) levels were estimated. Glibenclamide was used as standard drug. Results: Our results demonstrated that the aqueous extract of G. opuntia possess free radical scavenging activity. During FM4 fraction treatment (100 mg/kg BW), the SOD, GPx, CAT, GST, GSH, VIT-C and VIT-E levels were significantly (P < 0.05) increased, and the LPx levels were decreased in different organs such as liver, kidney, brain and pancreas of diabetic rats. Conclusions: The sulphated galactopyran fraction of the marine macroalgae (G. opuntia) possesses the antioxidant activity which might help in the prevention of oxidative damage that occurs during diabetes.

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