Isolation and characterisation of sulphated polysaccharides from Hypnea musciformis and their antidiabetic effects via digestive enzyme inhibition and enhanced carbohydrate catabolism in diabetic rats

Morsli, A. and Laabas, S. and Silarbi, T. and Abdellah, F. and Zouidi, F. and Ayad, N. (2026) Isolation and characterisation of sulphated polysaccharides from Hypnea musciformis and their antidiabetic effects via digestive enzyme inhibition and enhanced carbohydrate catabolism in diabetic rats. ACTA ALIMENTARIA: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, 55 (3). pp. 451-465. ISSN 0139-3006

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to isolate sulphated polysaccharides from the red alga Hypnea musciformis (HMSP), characterise their physicochemical properties, and evaluate their antidiabetic effects in rats. HMSP were extracted and analysed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). FTIR confirmed sulphation through a characteristic S=O band at 753 cm −1 , while XRD indicated a semi-crystalline structure. HPLC-MS profiling revealed a heterogeneous monosaccharide composition, with ribose (14.8%) as the predominant sugar, followed by mannose, lyxose, glucose, xylose, talose, galactopyranose, and arabinose. In diabetic rats, oral administration of HMSP exhibited a clear dose-dependent effect, with an optimal dose of 165 mg kg −1 body weight. At this dose, HMSP significantly reduced α-amylase and pancreatic lipase activities by 45 and 23%, respectively, while enhancing hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities by 135 and 41%, respectively, indicating improved glucose utilisation and carbohydrate metabolism. Consequently, blood glucose levels decreased markedly by 57%. Furthermore, HMSP improved hepatic and renal functions, as evidenced by reductions in biochemical markers of organ damage, and contributed to lipid profile regulation, including decreases in total cholesterol (−27%) and triglycerides (−25%), restoration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, and a moderate reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Overall, HMSP exhibit significant antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, and organ-protective effects, highlighting their potential as a promising natural therapeutic candidate for the management of diabetes and its associated metabolic disorders.

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