Health Benefits of Seaweed and Rosemary Extracts in Diabetes

Jenn Hoskins
19th May, 2024

Health Benefits of Seaweed and Rosemary Extracts in Diabetes

Certain extracts from rosemary (pictured left) and brown algae (Gongolaria abies-marina, pictured right) may help diabetes related metabolic issues, according to the study.

Composite image created by Natural Science News / CC BY. Adapted from photos by Louis Aureglia and Ben Jobson.

Key Findings

  • The study from the Medical University of Bialystok explored the effects of rosemary and brown algae extracts on diabetic rats
  • Both extracts helped counteract diabetes-induced metabolic disturbances, with brown algae showing a stronger effect
  • The findings suggest that these natural extracts could help manage diabetes-related metabolic issues and reduce complications
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by high blood sugar levels, leading to various metabolic disturbances and complications. Managing these metabolic alterations is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Recent research from the Medical University of Bialystok has explored the potential of nutraceuticals—natural bioactive compounds with health benefits—in modulating the metabolic profile of diabetic individuals. Specifically, this study investigated the effects of environmentally clean extracts from Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) and Gongolaria abies-marina (a type of brown algae) on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats[1]. The study divided rats into six groups: three diabetic groups receiving either a placebo, R. officinalis extract, or G. abies-marina extract, and three corresponding control groups. Using advanced untargeted LC-QTOF-MS (liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry) metabolic profiling, the researchers identified significant changes in the levels of various glycerophospholipids, sterol lipids, and fatty acyls. Both plant extracts were found to partially counteract the diabetes-induced metabolic disturbances, with G. abies-marina showing a more pronounced effect compared to R. officinalis. This research builds on earlier findings that have shown the impact of oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetes. For instance, a study comparing oxidative stress biomarkers and pro-inflammatory cytokines in rats with hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 1 diabetes mellitus found that diabetes induced the highest levels of oxidative stress markers and pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to irreversible arterial changes[2]. The new study aligns with these findings by demonstrating that nutraceuticals can mitigate some of these oxidative and inflammatory effects, thereby improving the metabolic profile in diabetic conditions. Additionally, previous research has highlighted the significance of oxidative stress in diabetes. For example, a study examining oxidative stress and DNA damage in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes found significant age- and diabetes type-related changes in oxidative DNA modification and repair capacity[3]. The current study's focus on metabolic profiling complements these findings by providing a broader understanding of how plant extracts can influence various metabolic pathways affected by diabetes. The methods used in the current study involved administering the plant extracts to diabetic rats and then analyzing their metabolic profiles using LC-QTOF-MS. This technique allows for the comprehensive identification and quantification of metabolites, offering insights into the biochemical changes induced by diabetes and the potential mitigating effects of the extracts. The results showed that both R. officinalis and G. abies-marina extracts could modulate the levels of key lipids and fatty acids, which are often disrupted in diabetes. One of the key findings was that G. abies-marina had a more substantial impact on the metabolic alterations induced by diabetes compared to R. officinalis. This suggests that the specific bioactive compounds in G. abies-marina may be more effective in counteracting the metabolic disturbances associated with diabetes. Further research is needed to identify these compounds and understand their mechanisms of action. These findings are significant because they suggest that nutraceuticals derived from environmentally clean sources could offer a complementary approach to managing diabetes-related metabolic disturbances. By modulating the metabolic profile, these plant extracts could potentially reduce the risk of complications associated with diabetes, such as cardiovascular disease and oxidative stress-related damage. In conclusion, the study from the Medical University of Bialystok provides promising evidence that extracts from R. officinalis and G. abies-marina possess nutraceutical potential in managing diabetes-related metabolic disturbances. G. abies-marina, in particular, exhibited a more substantial effect, warranting further exploration of its bioactive compounds and their therapeutic potential. These findings contribute to a growing body of research indicating the benefits of natural compounds in the management of chronic diseases like diabetes.

MedicineHealthBiochem

References

Main Study

1) Metabolic profiling reveals the nutraceutical effect of Gongolaria abies-marina and Rosmarinus officinalis extracts in a type 1 diabetes animal model.

Published 17th May, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116731

Related Studies

2) Evaluation of Oxidative Stress Biomarkers, Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines, and Histological Changes in Experimental Hypertension, Dyslipidemia, and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23031438

3) Parameters of oxidative stress, DNA damage and DNA repair in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

https://doi.org/10.3109/13813455.2010.551135


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