0 Glyconutrients

For more than 70 years Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery® has been the one consistently excellent reference for every specialist who uses plastic surgery techniques or works in conjunction with a plastic surgeon. The journal brings readers up-to-the-minute reports on the latest techniques and follow-up for maxillofacial reconstruction, burn repair, cosmetic reshaping, as well as news on medicolegal issues. The cosmetic section provides expanded coverage on new procedures and techniques.

Several types of cancers share cellular and molecular behaviors. Although many chemotherapy drugs have been designed to weaken the defenses of cancer cells, these drugs may also have cytotoxic effects on healthy tissues. Fucoidan, a sulfated fucose-based polysaccharide from brown algae, has gained much attention as an antitumor drug owing to its anticancer effects against multiple cancer types. Among the anticancer mechanisms of fucoidan are cell cycle arrest, apoptosis evocation, and stimulation of cytotoxic natural killer cells and macrophages. Fucoidan also protects against toxicity associated with chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation-induced damage. The synergistic effect of fucoidan with existing anticancer drugs has prompted researchers to explore its therapeutic potential. This review compiles the mechanisms through which fucoidan slows tumor growth, kills cancer cells, and interacts with cancer chemotherapy drugs. The obstacles involved in developing fucoidan as an anticancer agent are also discussed in this review.

For a long time, fucoidan has been well known for its pharmacological activities, and recently low molecular weight fucoidan (LMF) has been used in food supplements and pharmaceutical products. In the present study, LMF was extracted from Laminaria japonica by enzyme hydrolysis. The toxicity of LMF in mouse and rat models was determined by many methods, such as total arsenic content, bacterial reverse mutation assay, chromosome aberration assay, and in vivo micronucleus assay. The present findings showed that LMF at 5000 μg/mL exhibited no mutagenicity. It also produced no formatting disruption of red blood cells in vivo. At 2000 mg/kg BW/day there were no toxicological indications. LMF is expected to be used as a safe food supplement.

Aloe vera (AV) is popular and has been commercialized as a beauty product, laxative, herbal medicine, the antimicrobial activity of AV is proven. The antiviral activity of AV however, has not been well documented except for a handful reports. Till date extraction of AV compounds is popularized using …

What's New? In this prospective study, the authors asked whether regular use of glucosamine and chondroitin supplements might reduce the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). They found that the combinati...

Several studies have indicated that fucoidan fractions with low molecular weight and different sulfate content from Laminaria japonica could inhibit the activation of platelets directly by reducing the platelet aggregation. To explore the direct effect of LMW fucoidan on the platelet system furthermore and examine the possible mechanism, the endothelial protection and inhibits platelet activation effects of two LMW fucoidan were investigated. In the present study, Endothelial injury model of rats was made by injection of adrenaline (0.4 mg kg−1) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured. vWF level was be investigated in vivo and in vitro as an important index of endothelial injury. LMW fucoidan could significantly reduce vWF level in vascular endothelial injury rats and also significantly reduce vWF level in vitro. The number of EMPs was be detected as another important index of endothelial injury. The results showed that LMW fucoidan reduced EMPs stimulated by tumor necrosis factor. In this study, it was found that by inhibiting platelet adhesion, LMW fucoidan played a role in anti-thrombosis and the specific mechanism of action is to inhibit the flow of extracellular Ca2+. All in a word, LMW fucoidan could inhibit the activation of platelets indirectly by reducing the concentration of EMPs and vWF, at the same time; LMW fucoidan inhibited the activation of platelets directly by inhibiting the flow of extracellular Ca2+.

In this study, fucoidans with different molecular weight that were isolated from the brown alga Undaria pinnatifida (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales) were investigated for their ability to inhibit melanogenesis and scavenge superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. Fucoidan samples with low molecular weights of 89, 35, 17, and 6 kDa were prepared by radiation-degradation of a 378 kDa fucoidan isolated from U. pinnatifida. The inhibitory activity of fucoidan against melanin biosynthesis in B16BL6 melanoma cells was enhanced for low molecular weight samples. To investigate the increase in melanogenesis inhibition exhibited by the low molecular weight fucoidan, tyrosinase inhibition activity and radical scavenging activities were measured. There was an increase in the tyrosinase inhibition activity for low molecular weight samples. Additionally, the radical scavenging activity was increased for lower molecular weight fucoidans. These results suggest that low molecular weight fucoidans from seaweeds may have beneficial biological properties.

Aloe vera gel is a potential material as raw material industry, this is because a very complex composition. However Aloe vera gel is very easily oxidized or unstable. Viscosity gel and the benefit are decreased at room temperature after 24-36 hours. This research aims to obtain information about the resistance to oxidation via nitogren gas treatment and antioxidants, as well as the influence of phase changes in an attempt to retain the characteristics of the physicochemical Aloe vera gel over time. This Study can be described a conclusion that the best storage conditions are sound-proofed temperature conditions (4 ± 1)oc. Environmental conditioning by administering nitrogen gas storage and antioxidant Buthylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) 750 ppm for 4 weeks defending the nature physicochemical Aloe vera gel. Freeze drying process of Aloe vera gel that has filled gum Arabic 3 % generates a more homogenous powder and smaller and more.

In this study, fucoidans with different molecular weight that were isolated from the brown alga Undaria pinnatifida (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales) were investigated for their ability to inhibit melanogenesis and scavenge superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. Fucoidan samples with low molecular weights of 89, 35, 17, and 6 kDa were prepared by radiation-degradation of a 378 kDa fucoidan isolated from U. pinnatifida. The inhibitory activity of fucoidan against melanin biosynthesis in B16BL6 melanoma cells was enhanced for low molecular weight samples. To investigate the increase in melanogenesis inhibition exhibited by the low molecular weight fucoidan, tyrosinase inhibition activity and radical scavenging activities were measured. There was an increase in the tyrosinase inhibition activity for low molecular weight samples. Additionally, the radical scavenging activity was increased for lower molecular weight fucoidans. These results suggest that low molecular weight fucoidans from seaweeds may have beneficial biological properties.

The intestinal microecology is an extremely complex ecosystem consisting of gut microbiota, intestinal mucosa and the intestinal immune system. The intestinal microecology performs several important ...

Fucoidan-a marine natural active polysaccharide derived from brown algae with a variety of medicinal activities and low toxicity-has been used as clinical drug for renal diseases for nearly 20 years. The pharmacological mechanism of fucoidan has been well-investigated, based on target molecules and …

Polymeric nanoparticles based on fucoidan and chitosan were developed to deliver quercetin as a novel functional food. Through the polyelectrolyte self-assembly method, fucoidan/chitosan (F/C) nanoparticles were obtained with three different weight ratios (1/1, 3/1, and 5/1). The content of quercetin in the fucoidan/chitosan nanoparticles was in the range 110 ± 3 to 335 ± 4 mg·mL−1, with the increase of weight ratio of fucoidan to chitosan in the nanoparticle. Physicochemically stable nanoparticles were obtained with a particle size within the 300–400 nm range and surface potential higher than +30 mV for the 1F/1C ratio nanoparticle and around −30 mV for the 3F/1C and 5F/1C ratios nanoparticles. The 1F/1C ratio nanoparticle became larger and more unstable as the pH increased from 2.5 to 7.4, while the 3F/1C and 5F/1C nanoparticles retained their initial characteristics. This result indicates that the latter nanoparticles were stable along the gastrointestinal tract. The quercetin-loaded fucoidan/chitosan nanoparticles showed strong antioxidant activity and controlled release under simulated gastrointestinal environments (in particular for the 3F/1C and 5F/1C ratios), preventing quercetin degradation and increasing its oral bioavailability.

The pretreatment of aqueous extract of Aloe vera leaf in rats proved to act as a potential antioxidant which could be implicated toward protection of the integrity of liver of rat against pesticide i...

Seaweeds have received huge interest in recent years given their promising potentialities. Their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hypolipemic, and anticoagulant effects are among the most renowned and studied bioactivities so far, and these effects have been increasingly associated with their content and richness in both primary and secondary metabolites. Although primary metabolites have a pivotal importance such as their content in polysaccharides (fucoidans, agars, carragenans, ulvans, alginates, and laminarin), recent data have shown that the content in some secondary metabolites largely determines the effective bioactive potential of seaweeds. Among these secondary metabolites, phenolic compounds feature prominently. The present review provides the most remarkable insights into seaweed research, specifically addressing its chemical composition, phytopharmacology, and cosmetic applications.

Fucoidan is one of the dominant sulfated polysaccharide which was extracted from the brown seaweed Turbinaria decurrens. In the behavioral study mice …

Fucoidan is a marine polymer extracted from diverse types of brown algae. This polysaccharide showed great potential towards treatment of different ty…

Laminaria japonica (LJ) and Hizikia fusiforme (HF) are brown seaweeds known to have various health-promoting effects. In this study, we investigated the anti-diabetic effects and possible mechanism(s) of LJ and HF by using both in vitro and in vivo models. C2C12 myotubes, mouse-derived skeletal muscle cells, treated with LF or HF extracts were used for the in vitro model, and muscle tissues from C57BL/6N mice fed a high-fat diet supplemented with 5% LF or HF for 16 weeks were used for the in vivo model. Although both the LF and HF extracts significantly inhibited α-glucosidase activity in a dose-dependent manner, the HF extract had a superior α-glucosidase inhibition than the LF extract. In addition, glucose uptake was significantly increased by LJ- and HF-treated groups when compared to the control group. Phosphorylation of protein kinase B and AMP-activated protein kinase was induced by LJ and HF in both the vivo and in vitro skeletal muscle models. Furthermore, LJ and HF significantly decreased tumor necrosis factor-α whereas both extracts increased interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated C2C12 myotubes. Taken together, these findings imply that the brown seaweeds LJ and HF could be useful therapeutic agents to attenuate muscle insulin resistance due to diet-induced obesity and its associated inflammation.

Fucoidan extracted from brown algae has multiple beneficial functions. In this study, we investigated the effects of low-molecular-weight fucoidan (oligo-FO) on renal fibrosis under in vitro and in vivo diabetic conditions, and its molecular mechanisms. Advanced glycation product (AGE)-stimulated rat renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (NRK-52E) and diabetic mice induced by high-fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and nicotinamide were used. Oligo-FO treatment significantly inhibited anti-high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1)/RAGE/ anti-nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)/transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/TGF-β1R/Smad 2/3/fibronectin signaling pathway and HIF-1α activation in AGE-stimulated NRK-52E cells. Conversely, the expression and activity of Sirt-1; the levels of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22 (USP22), p-AMPK, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1); and Nrf2 activation were remarkably increased by oligo-FO in AGE-stimulated cells. However, the above effects of oligo-FO were greatly diminished by inhibiting Sirt-1, HO-1, or GLP-1R activity. Similar changes of these pro-fibrotic genes in the kidney and a marked attenuation of renal injury and dysfunction were observed in oligo-FO-treated diabetic mice. These findings indicated that the inhibitory effects of the oligo-FO on diabetes-evoked renal fibrosis are mediated by suppressing TGF-β1-activated pro-fibrogenic processes via Sirt-1, HO-1, and GLP-1R dependence. Collectively, fucoidan-containing foods or supplements may be potential agents for ameliorating renal diseases due to excessive fibrosis.

The aim of this study was to determine whether low-molecular-weight fucoidan (LMWF) can reduce TGF-β-mediated pathogenesis of tubulointerstitial fibro…

Low-molecular-weight Fucoidan (Oligo-Fucoidan) is a sulfated polysaccharide that has a variety of biological effects and has also been shown to have beneficial health effects. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of Oligo-Fucoidan ...

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is recognized as a key determinant of progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD). Fucoidan, a sulphated polysaccharide extracted from brown seaweed, exerts beneficial effects in some nephropathy models. The present study evaluated the inhibitory effect of oligo-fucoidan (800 Da) on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. We established a mouse CKD model by right nephrectomy with transient ischemic injury to the left kidney. Six weeks after the surgery, we fed the CKD mice oligo-fucoidan at 10, 20, and 100 mg/kg/d for 6 weeks and found that the oligo-fucoidan doses less than 100 mg/kg/d improved renal function and reduced renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in CKD mice. Oligo-fucoidan also inhibited pressure-induced fibrotic responses and the expression of CD44, β-catenin, and TGF-β in rat renal tubular cells (NRK-52E). CD44 knockdown downregulated the expression of β-catenin and TGF-β in pressure-treated cells. Additional ligands for CD44 reduced the anti-fibrotic effect of oligo-fucoidan in NRK-52E cells. These data suggest that oligo-fucoidan at the particular dose prevents renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in a CKD model. The anti-fibrotic effect of oligo-fucoidan may result from interfering with the interaction between CD44 and its extracellular ligands.

SARS-CoV-2 is the pathogen agent of the new corona virus disease that appeared at the end of 2019 in China. There is, currently, no effective treatmen…