Exploring the uncharted potential of sea plants for diabetes management
Advances, challenges, and future directions
Abstract
Background: The rising global burden of diabetes mellitus, especially type 2 diabetes, highlights the necessity of new, safe, and sustainable treatment approaches that will not be limited to traditional pharmacological treatment options. An unexploited source of structurally diversified biologically potent antidiabetic compounds is marine ecosystems, particularly sea plants, which include macroalgae (seaweeds) and seagrasses. Scope and approach: This review is a critical analysis of current progress in the identification, isolation and characterization of marine macroalgae- and seagrass-derived bioactive metabolites that deal with the regulation of glucose, insulin sensitivity, oxidative stress, as well as inflammation. These compounds have an effect on major metabolic pathways. Mechanistic understanding of their mechanisms of action is supported by evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and emerging clinical studies. Simultaneously, the issues of compound standardization, bioavailability, regulatory approval, and environmental sustainability, marine biodiversity protection, and ethical bioprospecting were discussed. Key findings and conclusions: This review presents compelling original insights and calls on international research to invest more in developing marine biotechnology and to develop effective clinical and regulatory infrastructure to achieve the full antidiabetic potential of marine macroalgae and seagrass. With the incorporation of molecular science, environmental management and health concerns on a global scale, marine-derived bioactives can become a revolutionary frontier in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and its related complications.
Details
- Organisation(s)
-
Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition
Institute of Food and One Health
Molecular Food Chemistry and Food Development
- External Organisation(s)
-
Aksaray University
University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM)
National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)
Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University
Federal University of Technology, Akure
Federal University of Technology, Minna
Usak University
- Type
- Article
- Journal
- Trends in Food Science & Technology
- Volume
- 173
- ISSN
- 0924-2244
- Publication date
- 07.2026
- Publication status
- Published
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biotechnology, Food Science
- Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being, SDG 14 - Life Below Water
- Electronic version(s)
-
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2026.105778 (Access:
Open
)
