New Discovery: Marine Algae Extract Could Help Treat Type 2 Diabetes

Researchers from SRM Institute of Science and Technology in Chennai, India, have found that an extract from a type of seaweed, Sargassum tenerrimum, might help treat type 2 diabetes. This seaweed extract, rich in compounds called phlorotannins, has shown promise in improving blood sugar levels and reducing damage caused by diabetes in a recent study on rats.

A New Hope for Diabetes Treatment

Type 2 diabetes is a widespread disease that affects how your body handles sugar (glucose). Many people with diabetes have to take multiple medications to manage their blood sugar levels, which can come with side effects. The researchers believe that natural compounds from seaweed could offer a new, more natural way to treat this condition.

How the Study Was Conducted

In the study, researchers fed rats a high-fat diet and gave them a small dose of a chemical called streptozotocin to induce diabetes, mimicking how type 2 diabetes develops in humans. They then treated these diabetic rats with the seaweed extract at two different doses or with metformin, a common diabetes medication, for three weeks.

Positive Results

The results were very encouraging:

• The seaweed extract significantly lowered the rats’ fasting blood sugar levels and improved their insulin resistance.
• It also helped normalize their cholesterol and liver enzyme levels.
• The extract increased the levels of important antioxidant enzymes in the rats’ muscles, which protect against damage caused by high blood sugar.
• Rats treated with the seaweed extract showed less damage to their pancreas (the organ that produces insulin) and liver.
• The higher dose of the seaweed extract (400 mg/kg) was found to be more effective than the lower dose, showing a stronger improvement in all the measured parameters.

What This Means

Dr. Chitra Vellapandian, the lead researcher, explained the significance of the findings: “Our study shows that this seaweed extract can effectively reduce blood sugar levels, improve insulin resistance, and protect against damage caused by diabetes. This natural treatment could potentially offer a new way to manage type 2 diabetes with fewer side effects.”

Next Steps

While these findings are promising, more research is needed to understand exactly how the seaweed extract works and to test its safety and effectiveness in humans. The researchers are planning further studies to explore these questions.

This discovery opens up exciting possibilities for a natural and effective treatment for type 2 diabetes, potentially benefiting millions of people worldwide. Stay tuned for more updates as this research progresses.

For more information, you can contact Dr. Chitra Vellapandian at SRM College of Pharmacy, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai.