Exploring the hidden treasures of Nitella hyalina: a comprehensive study on its biological compounds, nutritional profile, and unveiling its antimicrobial, antioxidative, and hypoglycemic properties.

Macroalgae has the potential to be a precious resource in food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries. Therefore, the present study was carried out to identify and quantify the phyco-chemicals and to assess the nutritional profile, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-diabetic properties of Nitella hyalina extracts. Nutritional composition revealed0.05 ± 2.40% ash content, followed by crude protein (24.66 ± 0.95%), crude fat (17.66 ± 1.42%), crude fiber (2.17 ± 0.91%), moisture content (15.46 ± 0.48%) and calculated energy value (173.50 ± 2.90 Kcal/100 g). 23 compounds were identified through GC-MS analysis in ethyl acetate extract, with primary compounds being Palmitic acid, methyl ester, (Z)-9-Hexadecenoic acid, methyl ester, and Methyl tetra decanoate. Whereas 15 compounds were identified in n-butanol extract, with the major compounds being Tetra decanoic acid, 9-hexadecanoic acid, Methyl pentopyranoside, and undecane. FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of alcoholic phenol, saturated aliphatic compounds, lipids, carboxylic acid, carbonyl, aromatic components, amine, alkyl halides, alkene, and halogen compounds. Moreover, n-butanol contains 1.663 ± 0.768 mg GAE/g, of total phenolic contents (TPC,) and 2.050 ± 0.143 QE/g of total flavonoid contents (TFC), followed by ethyl acetate extract, i.e. 1.043 ± 0.961 mg GAE/g and 1.730 ± 0.311 mg QE/g respectively. Anti-radical scavenging effect in a range of 34.55-46.35% and 35.39-41.79% was measured for n-butanol and ethyl acetate extracts, respectively. Antimicrobial results declared that n-butanol extract had the highest growth inhibitory effect, followed by ethyl acetate extract. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was reported to be the most susceptible strain, followed by Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, while Candida albicans showed the least inhibition at all concentrations. In-vivo hypoglycemic study revealed that both extracts exhibited dose-dependent activity. Significant hypoglycemic activity was observed at a dose of 300 mg/kg- 1 after 6 h i.e. 241.50 ± 2.88, followed by doses of 200 and 100 mg/kg- 1 (245.17 ± 3.43 and 250.67 ± 7.45, respectively) for n-butanol extract. In conclusion, the macroalgae demonstrated potency concerning antioxidant, antimicrobial, and hypoglycemic properties.

Effect of treatment with vitamin D plus calcium on oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: In diabetes mellitus, uncontrolled hyperglycemia has been reported to induce oxidative stress, which may lead to health complications. Vitamin D, however, acts as a non-enzymatic antioxidant to protect cells against oxidative stress and damage. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antioxidative effect of vitamin D combined with calcium in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. METHODS: Rats were divided into four groups (ten rats in each group). The first group (control) received a normal diet and water. The second group, including STZ-induced diabetic rats (diabetic controls), received a normal diet and water. The third group, also including STZ-induced diabetic rats, received vitamin D (2000 IU/day) with calcium (500 mg/kg/day) orally for 28 consecutive days. The fourth group consisted of STZ-induced diabetic rats that received insulin treatment for 28 consecutive days. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPO) and catalase were measured in the liver tissues. The level of malonaldehyde (MDA) was measured in the plasma. RESULTS: Diabetic rats showed a significant decrease in the activities of SOD, GPO and catalase compared to normal rats. Oral administration of vitamin D with calcium to diabetic rats caused a significant increase in the activities of SOD, GPO and catalase compared with the untreated group. Furthermore, the plasma level of MDA was significantly elevated in diabetic rats compared to normal rats. Diabetic rats treated with vitamin D and calcium had a significantly reduced level of MDA, suggesting that vitamin D with calcium played a vital role in the protection of tissues from damage by free radicals. CONCLUSION: Oral supplementation with vitamin D and calcium may be a useful treatment for diabetic patients to reduce/prevent the pathological complications of diabetes.