Abstract
This study explored the constitutive oxygenated steroids of Kappaphycus alvarezii growing in southeast coast of India and evaluated the effect of methanol extract in serum lipid profile and thyroid hormone activity in male rats. Chemical structures of the isolated compound from the thalli of K. alvarezii were established by spectral techniques (UV, 1H NMR). In vivo effects were investigated for the two methanol extracts 100 and 200 mg/kg in male rats, to determine lipid profile and thyroid hormone activity by chemiluminescence's method. The 1H NMR studies revealed the signals in the region 0.5 to 2.0 ppm suggesting the presence of steroidal identity in the methanol extract. Serum LDL level decrease from 46 mg/dl to 42.5 mg/dl. The result substantiate that the daily intake of this alga can lower the cholesterol and serum T3 level. The alga can be considered for, therapeutic application, for thyroid hormone disorders and obesity problems.
Acknowledgement
The author Dr. N. Nagarani, thanks MKU, for financial support to complete this work. Authors are grateful to Dr. Sripathi Kandula and Dr. Selvam, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University for their guidance in animal handling. The authors have no conflict of interest in publishing this manuscript.