MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Seagrass Enhalus acoroides extract mitigates obesity and diabetes via GLP-1, PPARγ, SREBP-1c modulation and gut microbiome restoration in diabetic zebrafish

Summary

Researchers tested a seagrass extract called Enhalus acoroides on diabetic zebrafish and found it effectively reduced body weight and blood sugar levels, performing as well or better than metformin, a common diabetes medication. The extract worked by activating genes that promote glucose metabolism and reducing genes that promote fat storage. Importantly, the extract also restored healthy gut bacteria balance, which appears to play a key role in its therapeutic effects. These findings suggest that seagrass could be developed into a natural supplement or functional food to help treat obesity and diabetes.

Background

Obesity and type 2 diabetes represent a significant global health burden affecting millions of people. Enhalus acoroides is a tropical seagrass rich in carotenoids and bioactive compounds with reported antioxidant and metabolic properties. However, the in vivo efficacy and molecular mechanisms of this seagrass extract remain unexplored.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects of Enhalus acoroides seagrass extract (SEAE) in a zebrafish model of diet- and glucose-induced metabolic dysfunction. The focus was on regulatory effects on GLP-1, PPARγ, and SREBP-1c pathways and influence on gut microbial composition.

Results

SEAE significantly reduced body weight and blood glucose in diabetic zebrafish with efficacy comparable to or exceeding metformin. SEAE upregulated GLP-1 and downregulated PPARγ and SREBP-1c, reduced cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL while increasing HDL. SEAE restored the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, increased alpha diversity, and shifted beta diversity toward healthy controls more effectively than metformin.

Conclusion

SEAE exhibits strong anti-obesity and anti-hyperglycemic effects by modulating key metabolic pathways and restoring gut microbial homeostasis. These findings highlight SEAE as a promising marine-derived therapeutic candidate for metabolic syndrome and warrant further investigation as a functional food or nutraceutical in mammalian models and clinical trials.
  • Published in:Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome,
  • Study Type:In vivo experimental study,
  • Source: PMC12181897, PMID: 40542443, DOI: 10.1186/s13098-025-01823-4
Scroll to Top