J Ethnopharmacol 1989 Nov;27(1-2):35-43
Hypoglycemic activity of several seaweed extracts.
Lamela M, Anca J, Villar R, Otero J, Calleja JM
Departamento de Farmacologia, Farmacia y Tecnologia Farmaceutica, Facultad de
Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

The hypoglycemic activity of several seaweed extracts on rabbits was studied.
Ethanol extracts of Laminaria ochroleuca, Saccorhiza polyschides and Fucus
vesiculosus were administered orally to normal animals and their effects on
glycemia and triglyceridemia evaluated. Crude polysaccharides and protein
solutions from Himanthalia elongata and Codium tomentosum were also assayed.
Polysaccharides and proteins from H. elongata caused a significant reduction in
blood glucose 8 h after intravenous administration. A case of 5 mg/kg of crude
polysaccharide lowered glycemia about 18% in normal rabbits and by about 50% in
alloxan-diabetic animals, while the protein solution lowered glycemia in
diabetic rabbits by about 30%.

PMID: 2615424, UI: 90135222