Fucoidan

Postprandial hyperglycemia remains a critical driver of diabetes progression. Fucoidan, a marine-derived sulfated polysaccharide with broad bioactivit…

Sarcopenia, characterized by age-related loss of muscle mass and function, presents a growing public health concern in aging populations. While resist…

This review explores the pharmacological potential of chondroitin sulfate and fucoidan as immunomodulatory agents targeting N-acetylgalactosaminidase (nagalase) to normalize immune responses. Nagalase, an enzyme produced by tumor and virus-infected cells, contributes to immune suppression by deactivating macrophage-activating factor. Both chondroitin sulfate and fucoidan, as representatives of glycosaminoglycans and heteropolysaccharides, exhibit significant potential in inhibiting nagalase activity, thereby restoring immune functionality. Chondroitin sulfate, a key component of the extracellular matrix, demonstrates anti-inflammatory and tissue-regenerative properties by modulating nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathways and cytokine expression. Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide derived from brown seaweed, enhances immune responses through macrophage and natural killer cell activation, while also exhibiting antiviral and anticancer activities. This dual action positions these compounds as promising agents for therapeutic interventions in chronic inflammatory conditions, cancer, and infectious diseases. The synergistic effects of chondroitin sulfate and fucoidan highlight their potential to address the root causes of immune dysregulation. This review aims to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action and explore the clinical applications of these compounds within the framework of innovative immunotherapeutic strategies. However, current evidence is limited by the predominance of preclinical studies and variability in experimental models. Well-designed clinical trials are needed to validate their efficacy for therapeutic use.

This review explores the pharmacological potential of chondroitin sulfate and fucoidan as immunomodulatory agents targeting N-acetylgalactosaminidase (nagalase) to normalize immune responses. Nagalase, an enzyme produced by tumor and virus-infected cells, contributes to immune suppression by deactivating macrophage-activating factor. Both chondroitin sulfate and fucoidan, as representatives of glycosaminoglycans and heteropolysaccharides, exhibit significant potential in inhibiting nagalase activity, thereby restoring immune functionality. Chondroitin sulfate, a key component of the extracellular matrix, demonstrates anti-inflammatory and tissue-regenerative properties by modulating nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathways and cytokine expression. Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide derived from brown seaweed, enhances immune responses through macrophage and natural killer cell activation, while also exhibiting antiviral and anticancer activities. This dual action positions these compounds as promising agents for therapeutic interventions in chronic inflammatory conditions, cancer, and infectious diseases. The synergistic effects of chondroitin sulfate and fucoidan highlight their potential to address the root causes of immune dysregulation. This review aims to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action and explore the clinical applications of these compounds within the framework of innovative immunotherapeutic strategies. However, current evidence is limited by the predominance of preclinical studies and variability in experimental models. Well-designed clinical trials are needed to validate their efficacy for therapeutic use.

This study aimed to elucidate the anticancer mechanism of Fucoidan (FCD) in Benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P)-induced lung cancer, especially its effect on club …

This study clarified the structure and digestive properties of the Laminaria japonica polysaccharide (LJP). It was demonstrated that LJP belongs to a heteropolysaccharide composed of mannuronic acid, fucose, galactose, glucuronic acid, mannose, xylose, glucose, and guluronic acid in the proportion of 34.56%: 30.55%: 10.63%: 7.52%: 6.66%: 3.74%: 3.62%: 2.72%, with a backbone chain composed of →4)-β-d-ManA-(1→, →3)-α-l-Fucp-(1→, →4)-α-GulA-(1→, →3,4)-α-GlcA-(1→, and →4)-β-d-GlcA-(1→. In vivo fluorescence imaging indicated that LJP was mainly distributed in the stomach and intestinal segments of mice, and the fluorescence signal gradually disappeared after 12 h of digestion. In addition, LJP had no effect on the phenotype and general health of mice while promoting the proliferation of the beneficial bacteria Rikenella, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group. Notably, 100 mg/kg LJP significantly increased the levels of acetic and butyric acid in the mice feces, which were 1.51 and 2.65 folds higher than the controls, respectively. Our study illuminated the absorption and distribution mechanism of LJP, providing a scientific reference for revealing LJP as a potential prebiotic.

Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan (UPF), a sulphated polysaccharide derived from brown seaweed, has attracted increasing scientific interest for its wide-ranging anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Previous studies have demonstrated that UPF exerts significant anti-inflammatory effects through the downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, inhibition of key signalling pathways such as NF-κB and MAPKs, suppression of oxidative stress, and modulation of immune mediators and gut microbiota. In parallel, emerging evidence highlights UPF's neuroprotective potential, characterised by reduced neuroinflammation, oxidative damage, and amyloid-beta accumulation, alongside enhanced antioxidant defence and neuronal function. Current investigations reinforce these findings, suggesting that UPF may serve as a valuable adjunct in managing inflammation-related disorders and neurodegenerative conditions. This review summarises the current knowledge on UPF’s mechanisms of action, with a particular focus on its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective pathways and implications for brain health, while also identifying gaps for future research and clinical translation.

Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan (UPF), a bioactive sulphated polysaccharide, is widely recognised for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, anticoagulant, antiviral, and immunomodulatory properties. However, the precise mechanisms by which UPF ...

Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide, demonstrates many biological activities. It has found extensive applications across medicine, food, cosmetics, an…

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness worldwide, with increasing incidence and prevalence.Currently, no effective tre…

Low molecular weight fucoidan (LMWF), a depolymerized form, is known to possess superior bioactivities compared to its high molecular weight counterpa…

This study investigates the anti-lung cancer activities of polysaccharides extracted from Laminaria japonica, focusing on their bioactive components a…

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic inflammatory bowel disease driven by gut dysbiosis, immune dysregulation, and oxidative stress, lacks universally effectiv...

Fucoidans have demonstrated a wide range of bioactivities including immune modulation and benefits in gut health. To gain a deeper understanding on the effects of fucoidan from Undaria pinnatifida (UPF) on the colonic microbiome, the short-term Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem®, a validated in vitro gut model, was applied. Following a three-week intervention period on adult faecal samples from three healthy donors, microbial community activity of the colonic microbiota was assessed by quantifying short-chain fatty acids while composition was analysed utilising 16S-targeted Illumina sequencing. Metagenomic data were used to describe changes in community structure. To assess the secretion of cytokines, co-culture experiments using Caco-2 and THP1-Blue™ cells were performed. UPF supplementation over a three-week period had a profound butyrogenic effect while also enriching colonic microbial diversity, consistently stimulating saccharolytic genera, and reducing genera linked with potentially negative health effects in both regions of the colon. Mild immune modulatory effects of UPF were also observed. Colonic fermentation of UPF showed anti-inflammatory properties by inducing the secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 in two out of three donors in the proximal and distal colon. In conclusion, UPF supplementation may provide significant gut health benefits.

Laminaria japonica (L. japonica), a widely cultivated marine macroalga, has gained substantial attention in human nutrition due to its rich compositio…

Fucoidan is a fucose-rich sulfated polysaccharide that has gained attention owing to its various biological activities. In this study, fucoidan was isolated from Saccharina japonica using an enzyme-assisted method, and its antioxidant and anti-hepatocarcinoma effects were evaluated. The fucoidan was a 112.8 kDa polysaccharide comprising seven monosaccharides: fucose, xylose, glucuronic acid, rhamnose, glucose, mannose, and galactose. The main chain residues were (1 → 3)-α-L-Fucp and (1 → 4)-α-L-Fucp units with sulfate groups at the C-2/C-4 positions of the (1 → 3)-α-L-Fucp residues. S. japonica fucoidans showed excellent antioxidant potency with values of 1.02 mg TE/g and 5.39 mg TE/g for the ABTS and FRAP assays, respectively. Additionally, they exerted antitumor efficacy and low systemic toxicity in H22 tumor-bearing mice, with a tumor inhibition rate of 42.93%. Furthermore, it significantly inhibited tumor angiogenesis and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines levels (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α). Our results suggest that fucoidan isolated from S. japonica possesses potent antioxidant and anticancer properties and may be used as a potential agent for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.

Fucoidan, a water-soluble polysaccharide derived from marine organisms, has garnered significant attention for its ability to regulate gut microbiota …

Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide found in brown seaweed. Due to its reported biological activities, including antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities, it has garnered significant attention for potential biomedical applications. However, the direct relationship between fucoidan extracts’ chemical structures and bioactivities is unclear, making it extremely challenging to predict whether an extract will possess a given bioactivity. This relationship is further complicated by a lack of uniformity in the recent literature in terms of the assessment and reporting of extract properties, yield and chemical composition (e.g., sulfate, fucose, uronic acid and monosaccharide contents). These inconsistencies pose significant challenges when directly comparing extraction techniques across studies. This review collected data on extract contents and properties from a selection of available studies. Where information was unavailable directly, efforts were made to extrapolate data. This approach enabled a comprehensive examination of the correlation between extraction techniques and the characteristics of the resulting extracts. A holistic framework is presented for the selection of fucoidan extraction methods, outlining key heuristics to consider when capturing the broader context of a seaweed bioprocess. Future work should focus on developing knowledge within these heuristic categories, such as the creation of technoeconomic models of each extraction process. This framework should allow for a robust extraction selection process that integrates process scale, cost and constraints into decision making. Key quality attributes for biologically active fucoidan are proposed, and areas for future research are identified, such as studies for specific bioactivities aimed at elucidating fucoidan’s mechanism of action. This review also sets out future work required to standardize the reporting of fucoidan extract data. Standardization could positively enhance the quality and depth of data on fucoidan extracts, enabling the relationships between physical, chemical and bioactive properties to be identified. Recommendations on best practices for the production of high-quality fucoidan with desirable yield, characteristics and bioactivity are highlighted.

An enriched environment (EE) constitutes a proficient strategy that instigates social, cognitive, and motor faculties, fostering healing and heighteni…

Insufficient dietary fiber intake has become a global public health issue, affecting the development and management of various diseases, including intestinal...

Molecular Neurobiology - There is no acquiesced remedy for the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI)-associated impairment, especially cognitive decline. The first 24 h after TBI is a...

Background/Objectives: Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide derived from marine algae, is known for its antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Galectin-3 (Gal-3), a protein associated with cardiovascular fibrosis, has been identified as a potential therapeutic target in cardiac remodeling. This study aimed to evaluate whether fucoidan could inhibit Gal-3 activity and mitigate cardiac remodeling in a mouse model of pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Methods: To test this hypothesis, we used transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery to induce pressure overload in normotensive mice, replicating the pathological features of cardiac hypertrophy. Mice were treated with fucoidan at a dose of 1.5 or 7.5 mg/kg/day. In vivo assessments of cardiac function, fibrosis, inflammation, and Gal-3 expression were performed. Results: Pressure overload led to significant upregulation of serum Gal-3 levels, increased cardiac collagen deposition, and elevated markers of fibrosis and inflammation. In mice treated with fucoidan, these effects were significantly attenuated. Fucoidan treatment prevented the upregulation of Gal-3, reduced collagen deposition, and decreased inflammatory cell infiltration, suggesting an inhibition of both fibrosis and inflammation. Conclusions: Fucoidan effectively mitigated the adverse effects of pressure overload in this mouse model, including reduced Gal-3 expression, fibrosis, and inflammation. These findings suggest that fucoidan holds promise as a therapeutic agent for preventing or delaying cardiac remodeling and associated complications, such as fibrosis and inflammation, in pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and clinical applicability of fucoidan in cardiac disease.

The lipid-lowering activity of fucoidan has been widely reported, but the exploration of its mechanisms is relatively limited, and studies on its dire…