Amelioration of obesity-related metabolic disorders via supplementation of Caulerpa lentillifera in rats fed with a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet.

Dietary modification, including functional foods, could reduce comorbidities due to obesity. An increase in serum glucose and lipids is often seen in obesity. Furthermore, obesity is also characterized by a decrease in antioxidant capacity (i.e., decrease in superoxide dismutase/SOD) and downregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α). It has been well established that PGC-1α is important to regulate mitochondrial biogenesis. Sea grapes (Caulerpa lentillifera) are known as a traditional food in many Asia-Pacific countries. Recent evidence suggests that sea grapes have many beneficial properties as functional foods and may have potential therapeutic functions. We investigated the effect of sea grapes (C. lentillifera) on serum glucose, lipids, PGC-1α, and protein levels of SOD in the liver of Rattus norvegicus, which is induced with a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet. A total of four groups were made, each containing ten male Rattus norvegicus; group A received a standard dry pellet diet as control, group B received cholesterol- and fat-enriched diets (CFED), groups C and D received CFED and 150 and 450 mg/kg body weight (BW) of sea grape extract, respectively, for 4 weeks. Serum glucose and cholesterol were assessed using a blood auto-analyzer. Serum PGC-1α was measured using ELISA. SOD levels were calculated using the superoxide dismutase assay kit by Sigma-Aldrich with blood taken from liver tissue. In this study, sea grape extracts improved total cholesterol levels better than the CFED and normal groups. The efficacy of total cholesterol improvement was similar between the two doses of sea grape extract. Furthermore, sea grape extract increased PCG-1α levels, especially with the dose of 150 mg/kg BW. Blood glucose was also lower in the groups of sea grape extract. Interestingly, the groups treated with sea grapes extract exhibited higher levels of liver SOD compared to the normal and CFED groups. To conclude, sea grapes (C. lentillifera) have promising potential for anti-hyperglycemia and anti-hypercholesterolemia, and for reducing oxidative stress, and providing various health benefits for metabolic disorders.

Anticancer Properties of Caulerpa racemosa: A Review Study

Introduction: Cancer is the leading cause of death in theworld, with approximately 10 million deaths expected by2020. Several approaches are used in cancer management.However, the cost is one of the main obstacles in cancer therapy as well as side effects in sufferers. Caulerpa racemosa is a type of seaweed that is naturally abundant in theIndonesian sea. Recently, there has been much research onthe anticancer effects of Caulerpa sp. This study aims to findthe potency of Sea grapes extract (Caulerpa racemosa) in thetreatment of cancer and its mechanisms.Method: A review of the literature was constructed on thepotential of the C. racemosa extract with the PICOS criteriaand the data were extracted from ‘PUBMED’, ‘ScienceDirect’and ‘SpringerLink’. The search method was using a booleanoperator with the main keywords ‘Caulerpa racemosa’, ‘cancer’, and ‘Management’.Results: The main results were 8 articles including in vitroand in vivo experimental studies based on inclusion criteria.Several studies (n=8) revealed the potency of C. racemosaextract as an anticancer agent through various activities, suchas antiproliferative, apoptotic, antioxidant, cytotoxic activity,and inhibition of tumor progression genes, DNMT, and upregulation of proapoptotic genes, including BAX, P53, Caspase-3, Caspase-8, and Caspase-9.Discussion: C. racemosa possesses several potent antioxidant substances, along with gene regulation activities and in hibition of cell line proliferation. Seaweeds has been usedwidely as functional food and showed minimal or no toxicitiesagainst human. With all these benefits, C. racemosa has thepotential to be commercialized as a promising diet for cancerpatients.Conclusion: Sea grapes extract (C. racemosa) has goodpotential as an anticancer agent through antiproliferationmechanisms, induction of apoptosis, cytotoxic and antioxidantactivity.(AU)

Kombucha drink enriched with sea grapes (Caulerpa racemosa) as potential functional beverage to contrast obesity: An in vivo and in vitro approach.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Obesity is currently a global issue and is a major cause of the metabolic disorder, including dyslipidemia. However, currently approved treatments have various limitations including serious side effects, numerous contraindications, and lack of acceptance. Caulerpa racemosa, also referred as Sea grapes, is a seaweed known for its various benefits. C. racemosa extract has the potential to improve lipid profile and role as an anti-obese agent. In order to maximize its health benefits, C. racemosa was made using kombucha drink as a carrier medium. This study aims to assess the effect of Sea grapes kombucha drink on lipase activity in vitro and lipid profile in vivo. METHODS: A lipase inhibition test was carried out by incubating Sea grapes kombucha drink compared with orlistat as the control in porcine pancreatic lipase and p-nitrophenyl butyrate in reaction buffer. A total of four groups were made, each containing 10 male swiss webster albino mice; group A received standard dry pellet diet as control, group B received cholesterol and fat-enriched diets (CFED), group C and D received CFED and 150 and 300 mg/kgBW of kombucha drink from Sea grapes respectively for 4 weeks. RESULTS: Sea grapes kombucha drink improved lipid profiles in the way of reducing total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, and increasing HDL levels compared to CFED and normal groups. The effect was more robust following the incrementing dose of the Sea grapes excluding total cholesterol. The lipase inhibitory activity of Sea grapes kombucha drink was similar to orlistat at a dose of 250 µg/mL, otherwise, orlistat was superior in the lower doses. CONCLUSIONS: Sea grapes kombucha drink treatment also induced weight loss and increased level of liver SOD. Kombucha drink from C. racemosa has good potential as a functional beverage with anti-obese and lipid improving activity.