Identification of Active Compounds of Eucheuma spinosum as Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Candidates: Metabolomic and In Silico Approaches

Arafah Nurfadillah; Ade Irma; Julianti Bunga

doi:10.56741/hesmed.v4i03.1516

Authors

Arafah Nurfadillah
arafahnurfadillah@gmail.com
Megarezky University https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6854-1225
Ade Irma Megarezky University
Julianti Bunga Megarezky University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56741/hesmed.v4i03.1516

Keywords:

Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, E spinosum, Metabolomic, Molecular Dynamic

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a non-communicable disease with an increasing global prevalence, and the long-term use of synthetic antidiabetic drugs is often associated with adverse side effects. Therefore, the exploration of natural antidiabetic agents with high efficacy and minimal toxicity is urgently needed. Red algae Eucheuma spinosum has been reported to contain bioactive metabolites with various pharmacological activities; however, its antidiabetic and antioxidant potential remains insufficiently explored. This study aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of E. spinosum through integrated in vitro and in silico approaches. Metabolite profiling using LC-HRMS identified 2,373 compounds in the alga extract. Antioxidant assays revealed strong activity with an IC₅₀ value of 97.72 ppm. In vitro antidiabetic assays demonstrated inhibitory activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. Eighteen compounds with the highest abundance were selected for molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations against 1B2Y, 5NN8, and 1CB4 target proteins. The results indicated that Undecyl 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate and nobiletin exhibited strong binding affinity and stable interactions with all three receptors. These findings suggest that E. spinosum is a promising source of natural antidiabetic and antioxidant compounds, particularly Undecyl 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate and nobiletin, which warrant further investigation.

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Author Biographies

Arafah Nurfadillah, Megarezky University

is a lecturer in the Bioinformatics Department at Megarezky University, Indonesia, specializing in microbiology and biochemistry. Her academic interests focus on microbial bioinformatics, molecular biology, and the integration of computational approaches in biological research. She is actively involved in research related to antimicrobial compounds, natural product bioactivity, and in silico analysis for drug discovery. She also contributes to scientific publications and student mentorship in health science research. (email: arafahnurfadillah@gmail.com).

Ade Irma, Megarezky University

is a lecturer in the Biomedical Science Department and serves as the secretary of the Biomedical Science study program at the Faculty of Health Technology, Megarezky University, Indonesia. She has a strong academic background in Medical Microbiology. Her research focuses on lactic acid bacteria, antibacterial agents, and antifungal compounds derived from natural and microbial sources. She is actively engaged in laboratory-based studies and contributes to applied biomedical research and academic development. (email: adeirmabio93@gmail.com).

Julianti Bunga, Megarezky University

is an undergraduate student in the Bioinformatics Study Program, Faculty of Health Technology, Megarezky University, Makassar. She has a strong interest in health-oriented bioinformatics and computational biology. Since beginning her university studies, she has aspired to become a professional bioinformatician. She is actively developing her skills in data analysis, biological computing, and research methodologies in health sciences. (email: Juliantibunga20@gmail.com).

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