Analysis of zoochemical from Meretrix casta (Mollusca: Bivalvia) extracts, collected from Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India and their pharmaceutical activities

Abstract

The vast marine ecosystem with its abundant and diverse animal phyla urges mega reservoirs in the discovery, isolation and characterization of a remarkable array of marine-derived natural products full of promise with respect to their medicinal and therapeutic potentials. While this is attended for from a substantial number of invertebrate phyla, the research focusing on Indian marine invertebrates is limited. Hence, the present study aims at investigating the zoochemical composition of ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts from Meretrix casta available off Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India. We, therefore, also aimed at evaluating their bioactive potential, with special emphasis on their antioxidant properties, enhancing glucose uptake in yeast cells, and blocking the alpha-amylase activity. Results obtained were consistent with the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, sterols, terpenoids, and cardiac glycoside in both extracts. The significant DPPH radical scavenging, therefore, substantiates antioxidant potentiality of these extracts albeit lesser than the reference antioxidant ascorbic acid. The extracts, further on, indicated significant glucose uptake into yeast cells compared to the metronidazole drug. In addition, both of the extracts of M. casta showed impressive inhibition of alpha-amylase, which clearly implies that they have great potentials in diabetes management. Consideration of these insights thereby strengthens the pharmacological potential of M. casta as a species for further therapeutic exploration.

URN:NBN:sciencein.jist.2024.v12.835