Functional Properties of the Marine Gastropod Molluscs Chicoreus ramosus and Babylonia spirata Collected from the Southern Coast of India

ABSTRACT

This study characterized the functional properties of ethyl acetate-methanol (EA-MeOH) and chloroform extracts of the muricid gastropod Chicoreus ramosus and buccinid Babylonia spirata. The EA-MeOH extract of B. spirata was a potent quencher of radical cation (IC₉₀ < 1 mg/mL), whereas that of C. ramosus held greater anti–inflammatory potential (IC₉₀ 5-lipoxygenase inhibition 1.74 mg/mL) than the buccinid gastropod. The EA-MeOH extract of C. ramosus displayed potent antidiabetic activities as deduced by its attenuation properties against carbolytic enzymes α-amylase and α-glycosidase (IC₉₀ 1.06 and 2.25 mg/mL, respectively) than those exhibited by B. spirata (IC₉₀ 2.32 and 4.50 mg/mL, respectively). The spectroscopic dereplication studies to determine probable chemical groups in the solvent extracts of the studied gastropods revealed the presence of functionalities, which might augment the electronic properties of the bioactive principles present within the extract, thereby enhancing their activity. Thus, the present study recognized that marine gastropods C. ramosus and B. spirata have potential functional implications against oxidative stress-induced diseases, such as diabetes and inflammation. This research supports further investigation of these previously uncharacterized marine gastropod species to isolate potential bioactive leads for use against various biological targets and to develop functional food formulations.