COMBINED EFFECT OF ULVA RETICULATA AND GRACILARIA EDULIS ON CELL VIABILITY, LIPID ACCUMULATION, AND INFLAMMATORY MARKERS IN 3T3-L1 AND RAW 264.7 CELLS

DEVI M; GEETHA B

doi:10.22159/ajpcr.2025v18i11.55949

Authors

DEVI M Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
GEETHA B Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0184-5780

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2025v18i11.55949

Keywords:

Ulva reticulata, Gracilaria edulis, Antioxidant,, Anti-inflammatory, Glucose uptake, Lipid accumulation, 3T3-L1,, RAW 264.7, Metabolic syndrome, Marine algae, Interleukin-6, Reactive oxygen species

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate the cytoprotective, antioxidant, lipid-lowering, glucose uptake-enhancing, and anti-inflammatory activities of Ulva reticulata (UR), Gracilaria edulis (GE), and their combination (CA). Marine algae are abundant sources of bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential for metabolic and inflammatory disorders. This study reveals the role of marine extracts UR, GE, and their CA in diabetes and its associated inflammatory conditions.

Methods: 3T3-L1 adipocytes and RAW 264.7 macrophages were used to analyze the activity of the extracts based on their role in adipocyte differentiation, lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and inflammation. The cell lines were exposed to UR, GE, and CA extracts prepared in ethanol: water (7:3, v/v). Cytotoxicity was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Reactive oxygen species levels were measured to evaluate antioxidant activity. Lipid accumulation was analyzed through lipid droplet staining. Glucose uptake was quantified using 2-NBDG assays. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to measure interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages.

Results: UR showed the highest bio-compatibility and mild proliferative effects, whereas CA displayed the greatest cytotoxicity at the tested concentrations. Antioxidant activity was strongest in UR, followed by GE, while CA exhibited lower scavenging potential. Despite its cytotoxic profile, CA most significantly reduced lipid accumulation and exerted the most pronounced suppression of IL-6 expression, suggesting that its anti-inflammatory efficacy may be linked to mechanisms independent of cell viability. UR, on the other hand, enhanced glucose uptake more effectively than GE and CA.

Conclusion: The hydroalcoholic extracts of UR and GE, individually and in CA, demonstrate distinct and complementary bio-activities that support their potential as natural agents for managing metabolic syndrome. These findings warrant further in vivo studies and mechanistic exploration.

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