Evaluation of α- and β-glucosidase inhibitory properties of macro-algae using intestinal extracts of marine snail, Thais rudolphi (Lamarck, 1822)

Abstract

Glucosidase-inhibitory activity of marine macro-algae, Ulva fasciata and Hypnea musciformis in different solvents was detected using enzyme-agar plate method. Eenzyme-agar plate containing α- or β-D-glucosidase was used in combination with substrate-agar plate containing p-nitro phenyl α- and β-D-glucopyranoside (PNPG). Discs impregnated with algal extracts placed on the enzyme agar, followed by pre-incubation up to 2.5 h at 25ºC, resulted in the characteristic inhibitory circle around the inhibitor. Extracts of red algae, H. musciformis had higher glucosidase-inhibition than the extracts of U. fasciata. The intestine of Thais rudolphi contained both α- and β-glucosidase enzymes and their inhibition was comparable with the commercial enzymes, suggesting the possible alternate method for assessing the glucosidase-inhibitory activity of the marine macro-algae.