Glyconutrients

A previous study revealed that fucoidan inhibited mast cell degranulation through the upregulation of galectin-9 in blood. The purpose of this study is to elucidate its mechanism using ovalbumin (OVA) induced anaphylaxis model mice (BALB/c, Female, 5-week-old) and mast cell line (RBL-2H3 cells). Oral administration of fucoidan after sensitization with OVA/Al(OH)3 inhibited reduction of rectal temperature induced by activation of mast cells. Fucoidan increased galectin-9 mRNA expression only in colonic epithelial cells. These results suggested that fucoidan could suppress the allergic symptoms in sensitized mice by inducing galectin-9 production from colonic epithelial cells. In addition, to check the influence of galectin 9 on the degranulation of mast cells, RBL-2H3 cell lines were treated directly with recombinant galectin-9. As expected, galectin-9 inhibited degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells pre-bound with IgE. Moreover, the residual amounts of IgE on RBL-2H3 cells were decreased by an addition of galectin-9. It was demonstrated that galectin-9 could remove IgE even if IgE was already bound to mast cells and suppress the mast cells degranulation induced by antigen. This study shows that fucoidan might become an effective therapeutic agent for patients already developed type I allergic diseases.

The aim of the present study was to explore the adjunctive use of Acacia arabica gel in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.Single centre, randomised, triple blind, controlled trial on mild to moderate chronic periodontitis patients; Group I (SRP + Acacia ...

In this study, we observed that brown seaweed fucoidan inhibited human breast cancer progression by upregulating microRNA (miR)-29c and downregulating miR-17-5p, thereby suppressing their target genes, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 12 (ADAM12) and ...

Vaginal atrophy is of the most common problems during menopause with significant psychosocial and medical consequences. Estrogen as an approved therap…

Seaweed and their constituents have been traditionally employed for the management of various human pathologic conditions such as edema, urinary disor…

Gum arabic establishes prebiotic functionality in healthy human volunteers in a dose-dependent manner - Volume 100 Issue 6

Although Aloe vera contains numerous bioactive components, the activity principles of widely used A. vera extracts are uncertain. Therefore, we analyzed the effects of genuine A. vera aqueous extract (AV) on human cells with respect to the effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE). Fully developed A. vera leaves were harvested and analyzed for vitamin C, carotenoids, total soluble phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, human cervical cancer (HeLa), human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC), human keratinocytes (HaCat), and human osteosarcoma (HOS) cell cultures were treated with AV extract for one hour after treatment with H2O2 or HNE. The cell number and viability were determined using Trypan Blue, and endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was determined by fluorescence, while intracellular HNE–protein adducts were measured for the first time ever by genuine cell-based HNE–His ELISA. The AV extract expressed strong antioxidant capacities (1.1 mmol of Trolox eq/g fresh weight) and cell-type-specific influence on the cytotoxicity of H2O2, as well as on endogenous production of ROS and HNE–protein adducts induced by HNE treatment, while AV itself did not induce production of ROS or HNE–protein adducts at all. This study, for the first time, revealed the importance of HNE for the activity principles of AV. Since HMEC cells were the most sensitive to AV, the effects of AV on microvascular endothelia could be of particular importance for the activity principles of Aloe vera extracts.

Immunomodulation involves two mechanisms, immunostimulation and immunosuppression. It is a complex mechanism that regulates the pathophysiology and pathogenesis of various diseases affecting the immune system. Immunomodulators can be used as immunostimulators to reduce the side effects of drugs that induce immunosuppression. In this study, we characterized the chemical composition of high molecular weight fucoidan (HMWF) and low molecular weight fucoidan and compared their functions as natural killer (NK) cell-derived immunostimulators in vitro. We also tested the effectiveness of HMWF, which has a relatively high function in vitro, as an immunostimulator in immunosuppressed animal models. In these models, HWMF significantly restored NK cell cytotoxicity and granzyme B release to the control group level. In addition, the expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-12, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α also increased in the spleen. This study suggests that HMWF acts as an effective immunostimulant under immunosuppressive conditions.

The chemical composition of fucoidan, a kind of sulfated polysaccharide mainly derived from brown seaweed, includes a substantial percentage of L-fucose. Fucoidan has various biological and pharmacological activities, such as anti-cancer/anti-tumor, anti-proliferation, anti-inflammatory and immune-m …

Among the different types of biomaterials, natural excipients gum acacia (GA) is economic and has the potential for controlled drug delivery. We have …

Cancer cachexia is characterized by anorexia, skeletal muscle atrophy, and systemic inflammation. Fucoidan extracted from brown algae exhibits anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. However, whether fucoidan ameliorates tumour and chemotherapy-induced muscle atrophy and -related cachectic symp …

Fucoidan, a fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharide with diverse biological functions, is mainly recovered from brown algae. In this study, we utilized a compressional-puffing process (CPP) to pretreat Sargassum crassifolium (SC) and extracted fucoidans from SC by warm water. Three fucoidan extracts (SC1: puffing at 0 kg/cm2; SC2: puffing at 1.7 kg/cm2; and SC3: puffing at 6.3 kg/cm2) were obtained, and their composition, and antioxidant and neuroprotective activities were examined. The results suggest that CPP decreased the bulk density of algal samples, expanded the algal cellular structures, and eliminated the unpleasant algal odor. The extraction yields of fucoidans were increased and impurities of fucoidans were decreased by increasing the pressures used in CPP. The SC1–SC3 extracts displayed various characteristics of fucoidan as illustrated by the analyses of composition, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and molecular weight. All three extracts SC1–SC3 showed antioxidant activity dose-dependently. Although both SC1 and SC2 possessed high and similar neuronal protective properties, SC2 showed a higher extraction yield, higher efficacy in the reversion of H2O2-induced cytotoxicity in rat pheochromocytoma PC-12 cells, and lower impurities compared with SC1, and thus SC2 is suggested as a good candidate for a therapeutic agent in the preventive treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Five cents worth of seaweed a day may dramatically improve a major cause of disability and compromised quality of life among women. Subscribe to NutritionFacts.org’s free newsletter to receive our B12 infographic that covers the latest research takeaways and Dr. Greger’s updated recommendations: https://nutritionfacts.org/subscribe/ I’m so glad I finally got an endometriosis video out. I think the only other video I touch on it is What Diet Best Lowers Phthalate Exposure? (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/what-diet-best-lowers-phthalate-exposure). I’ve also been neglecting sea vegetables. I did do Which Seaweed is Most Protective Against Breast Cancer? (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/which-seaweed-is-most-protective-against-breast-cancer/) and more recently, Wakame Seaweed Salad May Lower Blood Pressure (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/wakame-seaweed-salad-may-lower-blood-pressure) with more on the way. I’d recommend staying away from kelp and hijiki, though. See Too Much Iodine Can Be as Bad as Too Little (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/too-much-iodine-can-be-as-bad-as-too-little/). Other natural remedies for menstrual problems include • Dietary Treatment for Painful Menstrual Periods (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/dietary-treatment-for-painful-menstrual-periods/) • Flax Seeds for Breast Pain (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/flax-seeds-for-breast-pain/) • Ginger for Nausea, Menstrual Cramps, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/ginger-nausea-menstrual-cramps-irritable-bowel-syndrome/) • Fennel Seeds for Menstrual Cramps and PMS (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/fennel-seeds-for-menstrual-cramps-and-pms/) Have a question about this video? Leave it in the comment section at http://nutritionfacts.org/video/how-to-treat-endometriosis-with-seaweed and someone on the NutritionFacts.org team will try to answer it. Want to get a list of links to all the scientific sources used in this video? Click on Sources Cited at http://nutritionfacts.org/video/how-to-treat-endometriosis-with-seaweed. You’ll also find a transcript of the video, my blog and speaking tour schedule, and an easy way to search (by translated language even) through our videos spanning more than 2,000 health topics. If you’d rather watch these videos on YouTube, subscribe to my YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=nutritionfactsorg Thanks for watching. I hope you’ll join in the evidence-based nutrition revolution! -Michael Greger, MD FACLM Image credit: kreuzfeld via pixabay. Image has been modified. https://NutritionFacts.org • Subscribe: https://nutritionfacts.org/subscribe • Donate: https://nutritionfacts.org/donate • Podcast : https://nutritionfacts.org/audio • Facebook: www.facebook.com/NutritionFacts.org • Twitter: www.twitter.com/nutrition_facts • Instagram: www.instagram.com/nutrition_facts_org • Books (including the NEW How Not to Diet Cookbook): https://nutritionfacts.org/books • Shop: https://drgreger.org

The marine origin polysaccharide fucoidan combines multiple biological activities. As demonstrated by various studies in vitro and in vivo, fucoidans show anti-viral, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulant properties, although the detailed molecular action remains to be eluci …

ReferencePanahi Y, Khedmat H, Valizadegan G, Mohtashami R, Sahebkar A. Efficacy and safety of Aloe vera syrup for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a pilot randomized positive-controlled trial. J Tradit Chin Med. 2015;35(6):632-636.

Emerging evidence shows that dietary fucoidan contribute to the prevention and treatment of diverse diseases. Here, using a mouse model, we first demo…

Europe PMC is an archive of life sciences journal literature.

Cyclophosphamide (cy) is a widely used cancer drug. Many researchers have focused on the prevention and alleviation of its side effects, particularly damage to the intestinal mucosal barrier. In this study, we examined the effects of fucoidan, isolated from Acaudina molpadioides, on mice with intestinal muco

Although Aloe vera contains numerous bioactive components, the activity principles of widely used A. vera extracts are uncertain. Therefore, we analyzed the effects of genuine A. vera aqueous extract (AV) on human cells with respect to the effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE). Fully developed A. vera leaves were harvested and analyzed for vitamin C, carotenoids, total soluble phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, human cervical cancer (HeLa), human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC), human keratinocytes (HaCat), and human osteosarcoma (HOS) cell cultures were treated with AV extract for one hour after treatment with H2O2 or HNE. The cell number and viability were determined using Trypan Blue, and endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was determined by fluorescence, while intracellular HNE–protein adducts were measured for the first time ever by genuine cell-based HNE–His ELISA. The AV extract expressed strong antioxidant capacities (1.1 mmol of Trolox eq/g fresh weight) and cell-type-specific influence on the cytotoxicity of H2O2, as well as on endogenous production of ROS and HNE–protein adducts induced by HNE treatment, while AV itself did not induce production of ROS or HNE–protein adducts at all. This study, for the first time, revealed the importance of HNE for the activity principles of AV. Since HMEC cells were the most sensitive to AV, the effects of AV on microvascular endothelia could be of particular importance for the activity principles of Aloe vera extracts.

Background Laminaria japonica has frequently been used as a food supplement and drug in traditional oriental medicine. Among the major active constituents responsible for the bioactivities of L. japonica, fucoxanthin (FX) has been considered as a potential antioxidant. This study was conducted to examine the effects of L. japonica extract (LJE) or FX against oxidative stress on hepatocytes and to elucidate the overall their cellular mechanisms of the effects. Methods We constructed an in vitro model with the treatment of arachidonic acid (AA) + iron in HepG2 cells to stimulate the oxidative damage. The cells were pre-treated with LJE or FX for 1 h, and incubated with AA + iron. The effect on oxidative damage and cellular mechanisms of LJE or FX were assessed by cytological examination and several biochemical assays under conditions with or without kinase inhibitiors. Results LJE or FX pretreatment effectively blocked the pathological changes caused by AA + iron treatment, such as cell death, altered expression of apoptosis-related proteins such as procaspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, and mitochondria dysfunction. Moreover, FX induced AMPK activation and AMPK inhibitor, compound C, partially reduced the protective effect of FX on mitochondria dysfunction. Consistent with AMPK activation, FX increased the protein levels of autophagic markers (LC3II and beclin-1) and the number of acridine orange stained cells, and decreased the phosphorylation of mTOR and simultaneously increased the phosphorylation of ULK1. And the inhibition of autophagy by 3-methylanine or bafilomycin A1 partially inhibited the protective effect of FX on mitochondria dysfunction. Conclusion These findings suggest that FX have the function of being a hepatic protectant against oxidative damages through the AMPK pathway for the control of autophagy.

Fucoidans are multifunctional marine macromolecules that are subjected to numerous and various downstream processes during their production. These processes were considered the most important abiotic factors affecting fucoidan chemical skeletons, quality, ...

This naturally gluten-free thickening agent acts as a prebiotic, but it's also commonly found in packaged foods with unhealthy ingredients. So is it good or bad for health?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential anticancer properties and modulatory effect of selected Aloe vera (A. vera) active principles on antioxidant enzyme activities. Thus, three anthraquinones (Namely: aloesin, aloe-emodin and barbaloin) were extracted from A. vera leaves by supercriti …

The aim of the study was to determine the anti tumour and radio protective activity of Aloe vera. The tumour study was conducted in ascites tumour model and in solid tumour model. In solid tumour model a significant result was obtained when the extract of Aloe vera was administered to animal models. In radio protective study even though there was no significant effect of drug along with radiation induced animal's body weight, haemoglobin and in differential count there was a slight increase in Total WBC cou nt in drug induced animals along with radiation when compared with radiation alone treated animals

The impact of thermosonication on the functional properties and the main polysaccharides from Aloe vera was investigated. Thermal processing was used …

Statement of the Problem: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is one of the most common and debilitating oral diseases; yet, there is no standard topical treatment to control it. The extract of Aloe vera leaves has been previously reported to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and also antiviral effects. There is no data on anti-Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) activity of Aloe vera gel.Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the anti-HSV-1 activity of Aloe vera gel in Vero cell line.Materials and Method: In this study, gel extraction and cytotoxicity of various increasing concentrations of Aloe vera gel (0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, and 5%) was evaluated in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) containing 2% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Having been washed with phosphate buffered saline, 50 plaque-forming units (PFU) of HSV-1 was added to each well. After 1 hour of incubation at 37°C, cell monolayers in 24 well plates were exposed to different increasing concentrations of Aloe vera gel. The anti-HSV-1 activity of Aloe vera gel in different concentrations was assessed by plaque reduction assays. Data were analyzed by using One-way ANOVA.Results: The cytotoxicity assay showed that Aloe vera in prearranged concentrations was cell-compatible. The inhibitory effect of various concentrations of Aloe vera was observed one hour after the Vero cell was infected with HSV-1. However, there was no significant difference between two serial concentrations (p> 0.05). One-way ANOVA also revealed no significant difference between the groups. The findings indicated a dose-dependent antiviral effect of Aloe vera.Conclusion: The findings showed significant inhibitory effect of 0.2-5% Aloe vera gel on HSV-1 growth in Vero cell line. Therefore, this gel could be a useful topical treatment for oral HSV-1 infections without any significant toxicity.Key Words: Aloe vera; Herpes Simplex Virus-1; Herbal Medicine; Antiviral; Cell Culture