Characterization and Quantification of Bioactive Phytonutrients in Marine Algae Gracilaria opuntia and Its Pharmacological Evaluation in Hypothyroidism Induced Rat Models

Abstract

India ancient civilizations are known for medicinal plants wealth recognized for their low risk of adverse reactions Hypothyroidism results from the most common side effects of several medications industrial chemicals and environmental contaminants interacting with the thyroid gland and a decline in function which can result in diabetes Alzheimers disease and other metabolic diseases The present study evaluates the pharmacological activity of bioactive phytonutrients in the ethyl extract of Gracilaria opuntia in hypothyroidism rats induced by propylthiouracil The Gracilaria opuntia extract recovers the T3 and T4 thyroid hormones and better restores colloid tissue in the diseased thyroid glands The Gracilaria opuntia ethyl acetate extract was found to contain phytonutrients like terpenes omega 6 fatty acids aromatic hydrocarbons, and quinoxaline derivatives made as a potent antioxidant and antiinflammatory in hypothyroidism Also the quantity of micronutrients and macronutrients is close to the recommended daily intake Grouped non lethal dose survivors rats received propylthiouracil for the initial fifteen days followed by the Ethyl acetate extract of Gracilaria opuntia three hundred six hundred one thousand two hundred mg per kg the standard drug Levothyroxine treatment alone without propylthiouracil for next fifteen days Aerobic exercise for two groups treated with propylthiouracil and six hundred mg per kg respectively for the next fifteen days Thyroid Lipid profile and levels of cortisol creatinine and endogenous antioxidants were evaluated The ethyl acetate extract of Gracilaria opuntia one thousand two hundred mg per kg and the combination of extract six hundred mg per kg with aerobic exercise exhibited significant restoration of suboptimal thyroid functions due to favourable modulation of the hypothalamic pituitary thyroid axes newline