Antihyperglycemic, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of the Butanol Extract from Spirulina Platensis.

The butanol extract of Spirulina was found to have potent α-glucosidase inhibitory
activity with an IC50 value of 23.0 ± 0.4 μg/mL. Total phenolic and flavonoid
contents were estimated to be 121.0 ± 3.5 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g and
27.4 ± 1.2 mg rutin equivalent/100 g of Spirulina biomass. The butanol extract
also exhibited rat intestinal α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50 value of
37.5 ± 2.8 μg/mL. The butanol extract had showed antioxidant activities with
DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical), reducing power, hydroxyl radical
and nitric oxide scavenging activity and showed antimicrobial activity against
gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The present results indicate that
Spirulina can be used for nutraceutical applications.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Spirulina has Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status and FDA approval for
dietary supplement; therefore, it can be used as food supplement for health benefits.
The therapeutic approach for preventing diabetes mellitus is to retard the
absorption of glucose through inhibition of α-glucosidase.