Investigation into the Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant Properties, and In-Vitro Anti-Diabetic Efficacy of <i>Ulva lactuca</i> Extracts
Safae Ouahabi,
Nour Elhouda Daoudi,
El Hassania Loukili,
Hbika Asmae,
Mohammed Merzouki,
Mohamed Bnouham,
Allal Challioui,
Belkheir Hammouti,
Marie-Laure Fauconnier,
Larbi Rhazi,
Alicia Ayerdi Gotor,
Flore Depeint,
Mohammed Ramdani
Affiliations
Safae Ouahabi
Laboratory of Applied and Environmental Chemistry (LCAE), Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, B.P. 717, Oujda 60000, Morocco
Nour Elhouda Daoudi
Laboratory of Bioresources, Biotechnology, Ethnopharmacology and Health, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, B.P. 717, Oujda 60000, Morocco
El Hassania Loukili
Euromed Research Center, Euromed Polytechnic School, Euromed University of Fes (UEMF), Fes 30000, Morocco
Hbika Asmae
Laboratory of Applied and Environmental Chemistry (LCAE), Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, B.P. 717, Oujda 60000, Morocco
Mohammed Merzouki
Laboratory of Applied and Environmental Chemistry (LCAE), Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, B.P. 717, Oujda 60000, Morocco
Mohamed Bnouham
Laboratory of Bioresources, Biotechnology, Ethnopharmacology and Health, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, B.P. 717, Oujda 60000, Morocco
Allal Challioui
Laboratory of Applied and Environmental Chemistry (LCAE), Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, B.P. 717, Oujda 60000, Morocco
Belkheir Hammouti
Euromed Research Center, Euromed Polytechnic School, Euromed University of Fes (UEMF), Fes 30000, Morocco
Marie-Laure Fauconnier
Laboratory of Chemistry of Natural Molecules, University of Liège, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech. 2, Passage des Déportés, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium
Larbi Rhazi
Institut Polytechnique UniLaSalle, Université d’Artois, ULR 7519, UniLaSalle, 19 rue Pierre Waguet, BP 30313, 60026 Beauvais, France
Alicia Ayerdi Gotor
Institut Polytechnique UniLaSalle, AGHYLE, UP 2018.C101, UniLaSalle, 19 rue Pierre Waguet, BP 30313, 60026 Beauvais, France
Flore Depeint
Institut Polytechnique UniLaSalle, Université d’Artois, ULR 7519, UniLaSalle, 19 rue Pierre Waguet, BP 30313, 60026 Beauvais, France
Mohammed Ramdani
Laboratory of Applied and Environmental Chemistry (LCAE), Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, B.P. 717, Oujda 60000, Morocco
In this research, the chemical compositions of various extracts obtained from Ulva lactuca, a type of green seaweed collected from the Nador lagoon in the northern region of Morocco, were compared. Their antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties were also studied. Using GC–MS technology, the fatty acid content of the samples was analyzed, revealing that palmitic acid, eicosenoic acid, and linoleic acid were the most abundant unsaturated fatty acids present in all samples. The HPLC analysis indicated that sinapic acid, naringin, rutin, quercetin, cinnamic acid, salicylic acid, apigenin, flavone, and flavanone were the most prevalent phenolic compounds. The aqueous extract obtained by maceration showed high levels of polyphenols and flavonoids, with values of 379.67 ± 0.09 mg GAE/g and 212.11 ± 0.11 mg QE/g, respectively. This extract also exhibited an impressive ability to scavenge DPPH radicals, as indicated by its IC50 value of 0.095 ± 0.12 mg/mL. Additionally, the methanolic extract obtained using the Soxhlet method demonstrated antioxidant properties by preventing β-carotene discoloration, with an IC50 of 0.087 ± 0.14 mg/mL. Results from in-vitro studies showed that extracts from U. lactuca were able to significantly inhibit the enzymatic activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Among the various extracts, methanolic extract (S) has been identified as the most potent inhibitor, exhibiting a statistically similar effect to that of acarbose. Furthermore, molecular docking models were used to evaluate the interaction between the primary phytochemicals found in these extracts and the human pancreatic α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. These findings suggest that U. lactuca extracts contain bioactive substances that are capable of reducing enzyme activity more effectively than the commercially available drug, acarbose.
