Glyconutrients

Atherosclerosis (AS) is the key cause of many cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The inflammatory response and lipid metabolism disorders co…

The present study was premeditated to examine the radioprotective effects of aqueous Aloe vera gel extract against whole-body X-ray irradiation–induced hematolo...

Obesity is global problem that contributes to disease, and is partly caused by fast-food, high-fat diets. Much attention has been focused on developing anti-obesity foods and chemical materials from natural sources. Seaweed has bioactive properties that influence immune activity and have anti-cancer and anti-obesity effects. Laminaria japonica is a widely consumed seaweed, and has been promoted as a health food in Korea. The bioactive properties of L. japonica include anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammation effects. Most Laminaria japonica are distributed in a simple processing form such as drying, and their availability is very low. Therefore, various types of functional products can be developed if they can be applied to foods through functionalization using fermentation techniques. It is a structural problem that is the most problematic in seaweed processing. In this study, we used fermented Laminaria japonica. To increase physiological activity, fermentation treatment was performed to loosen the structure, thereby increasing the activity of the glycoprotein. First, we screened the anti-obesity potential of an L. japonica fermentation extract (LJF) using 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells. We determined cytotoxicity using an MTS assay and measured LJF for its ability to affect adipogenesis through glucose uptake, triglyceride levels, and Oil Red O staining. We confirmed that LJF inhibited adipocyte differentiation. CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins α/β (C/EBP-α/β) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) are involved in the early and late stages of adipocyte differentiation. LJF significantly reduced the expression levels of C/EBP-α/β and PPAR-γ and decreased the concentration of adiponectin. Thus, our results suggest that LJF inhibits adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells, and may be valuable for its anti-obesity effects.

In spite of their potential as biologically active compounds, the high molecular mass and viscous natures of fucoidans have hampered their applications especially as a therapeutic agent. Herein the fucoidan-degrading enzyme activities were partially purified from the cultured cells of Sphingomonas paucimobilis PF-1 mainly by ammonium sulfate precipitation. This enzyme preparation degraded fucoidans from the Korean Undaria pinnatifida sporophyll into several low-molecular weight fuco-oligosaccharides (LMFOs) with less than 3,749 Da. The FTIR spectra of intact fucoidan and mixture of LMFOs (1,389∼3,749 Da) showed no significant structural difference except for about 10% reduced level of sulfate esters in LMFOs. The LMFOs have exerted strong anticoagulating activities at which the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and thrombin time (TT) were significantly prolonged, although 3∼20 times weaker activities were observed than those of intact fucoidan. In addition, unlike intact fucoidan, LMFOs did not affect significantly to the prothrombin time (PT). These results suggest that the partially purified fucoidan-degrading enzyme preparation is valuable for the production of fuco-oligosaccharides having anticoagulating activities, and that the molecular weight and/or sulfate content of the fucoidan from the Korean Undaria pinnatifida sporophyll could be important factors for its anticoagulating activity.

Cancer is most common in worldwide and badly threaten to human’s life. Unfortunately drugs, which are used for cancer therapy, are toxic and affect not only cancer cells but also normal cells and...

Chemotherapeutic drugs commonly induce peripheral neuropathic pain, which limit their clinic use. In the present study, the effect of fucoidan on the development of vincristine‑induced neuropathic pain was evaluated and the underlying mechanism was examined. A neuropathy model was established in Sprague‑Dawley rats by intraperitoneal injection of vincristine sulfate 50 µg/kg once a day for 10 consecutive days. Fucoidan (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg.) and pregabalin (10 mg/kg) were injected for 14 consecutive days. Behavioral assessments were then performed and the expression of GABAB receptor was determined. The results showed that a single treatment with fucoidan did not prevent the induction of vincristine‑induced mechanical or cold allodynia. However, repeated fucoidan administration attenuated vincristine‑induced mechanical and cold allodynia in a dose‑dependent manner. Additionally, the analgesic effects of fucoidan contributed to an upregulation in the expression of GABAB receptor in the spinal cord. Furthermore, all the effects of fucoidan against vincristine‑induced neuropathy were reversed by saclofen, a selective GABAB receptor antagonist. These results suggested that the antinociceptive effects of fucoidan may be through activation of GABAB receptor, and fucoidan may be a promising drug for the treatment of chemotherapeutic drug-induced neuropathic pain.

While this plant is fairly common and well-known for its role in sunburn recovery, Aloe Vera is not content taking care of only one or two issues. This plant is a wonderful healing substance with plenty of uses.

Fucoidan, a natural sulfated polysaccharide, displays various biological activities including antioxidant properties. We examined the neuroprotective effect of fucoidan against transient global cerebral ischemia (tGCI) in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese gerbils and its related mechanisms. Gerbils received HFD for 12 weeks and fucoidan (50 mg/kg) daily for the last 5 days during HFD exposure, and they were subjected to 5-min tGCI. Pyramidal cell death was observed only in the CA 1 area (CA1) of the hippocampus in non-obese gerbils 5 days after tGCI. However, in obese gerbils, pyramidal cell death in the CA1 and CA2/3 occurred at 2 days and 5 days, respectively, after tGCI. In the obese gerbils, oxidative stress indicators (dihydroethidium, 8-hydroxyguanine and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal) were significantly enhanced and antioxidant enzymes (SOD1 and SOD2) were significantly reduced in pre- and post-ischemic phases compared to the non-obese gerbils. Fucoidan treatment attenuated acceleration and exacerbation of tGCI-induced neuronal death in the CA1–3, showing that oxidative stress was significantly reduced, and antioxidant enzymes were significantly increased in pre- and post-ischemic phases. These findings indicate that pretreated fucoidan can relieve the acceleration and exacerbation of ischemic brain injury in an obese state via the attenuation of obesity-induced severe oxidative damage.

GA treatment decreases blood pressure and proteinuria in diabetic mice and may thus prove beneficial in diabetic nephropathy.

The present study demonstrated the effect of fucoidan, isolated from Fucus vesiculosus, on cell growth and apoptosis in anaplastic thyroid cancer cells. The cell viability was analyzed using a Cell Counting Kit‑8 cell proliferation kit. Diamidino-2-phenylindole and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick‑end labeling assays were used to examine the apoptotic effect of fucoidan, which revealed the presence of apoptotic bodies and DNA fragmentation. Fucoidan inhibited the growth of FTC133 and TPC1 ATC cells in a dose‑dependent manner. It also induced the apoptosis of FTC133 cells by promoting the expression levels of cleaved poly ADP‑ribose polymerase and caspase‑3. Significant decreases in the levels expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and vascular endothelial growth factor were observed in the FTC133 cells following treatment of the cells with fucoidan. In addition, inhibition in tube formation and the migration of FTC133 cells were observed in the cells treated with fucoidan, compared with the cells in the control group. Therefore, fucoidan inhibited cell growth, induced apoptosis and suppressed angiogenesis in the thyroid cancer cells.

This in vitro study investigated the antiviral activity of an acidic polysaccharide from Laminaria japonica against enterovirus 71 (EV71) as well as i…

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Fucoidan is a series of sulfated polysaccharides derived from brown algae, and have reported to have various biological activities. Previously, we demonstrated that fucoidan derived from Cladosiphon okamuranus and Undaria pinnatifida effectively augmented anti-tumor immunity in combination with Agaricus blazei mycelia extract. In this study, we evaluated the capacity of the fucoidan-agaricus mix (FAM) to enhance oral mucosal immune function. Fifteen healthy volunteers (mean age, 41.2 years old; range, 22–56 years old; 8 males, 7 females) ingested 4 capsules each containing 250 mg FAM powder every day for 12 weeks. As a result, the mean of secretory rates of salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) tended to be increased by the FAM administration for 4 and 12 weeks as compared with the initial value. The enhanced salivary sIgA secretion was more distinctly observed in subject group whose initial values of salivary sIgA secretory rate were lower than the total average. Furthermore, the intake of FAM led to significant augmentation in the salivary sIgA secretion (by 1.3-fold) in the group of subjects under 40 years of age. On the other hand, concanavalin A-induced blastogenic response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum IgA concentration was not elevated during this trial. Therefore, it was suggested that FAM stimulated functional maturation rather than expansion of B lymphocyte. The intake of FAM did not significantly affect NK cell activities. In addition, the safety of FAM consumption was confirmed because no abnormal findings were observed in general clinical tests. From the results, it was suggested that intake of FAM was useful in augmentation of oral mucosal immune defense via enhancing salivary sIgA production.

Developing bio-multifunctional wound dressings with excellent hemostasis, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, enhanced angiogenesis and hair follicle re…

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 ...

Due to antitumor and antioxidant activities, there has been increasing interest in fucoidans, sulfated polysaccharides, from brown algae. Currently, t…

Objective: Based on anti-inflammatory effects of Aloe vera, the effect of aqueous extract of this plant on brain edema and changes in some pro-inflammatory cytokines was investigated after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Materials and Methods: In this study, adult male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: Sham, TBI, vehicle (Veh), and low dose (LA) and high dose (HA) Aloe vera. The vehicle and aqueous extract of Aloe vera were injected intraperitoneally 30 min after induction of diffuse TBI by Marmarou’s method. Brain edema (brain water content), and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-1β levels in serum and brain were measured 24 hr after TBI induction. Results: Increased brain edema by TBI was reduced by both LA and HA (p

Background/Aims: The effect of treatment with gum acacia (GA), a prebiotic shown previously to ameliorate chronic kidney disease (CKD), in diabetic and non – diabetic rats with adenine – induced CKD has been investigated using several conventional and novel physiological, biochemical, and histopathological parameters. Methods: Diabetes mellitus was

Background This study was to investigate the effect and its possible mechanism of fucoidan on the development of spontaneous autoimmune diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. Methods 7-week-old NOD mice were randomly divided into three groups: control group, low-dose (300 mg/kg) and high-dose (600 mg/kg) fucoidan-treatment groups. After 5 weeks of treatment, 10 mice per group were randomly selected to be sacrificed after feces collection. The remaining 12 mice per group were fed until 26 weeks of age to assess the incidence of diabetes. Results Treatment with fucoidan increased serum insulin level, delayed the onset and decreased the development of diabetes in NOD mice. Fucoidan reduced the levels of strong Th1 proinflammatory cytokines, but induced Th2-bias ed. cytokine response. And dentridic cells (DCs) in fucoidan treatment group were characterized as low expression of MHC class II and CD86 molecules. TLR4 expressions and the downstream molecules in pancreas were down-regulated in fucoidan-treated groups. There were significant differences in the composition of gut flora between NOD control group and fucoidan group. Lactobacillus and Akkermansia were significantly enriched in fucoidan group. Conclusions Fucoidan could prevent the development of autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice via regulating DC/Treg induced immune tolerance, improving gut microecology, down-regulating TLR4 signaling pathway, and maintaining pancreatic internal environment.

Treatment of many inflammatory diseases involves a chronic use of NSAIDs in large doses increasing acute kidney injury risk. This study was designed t…

Abstract Background Aloe vera is a plant that has been used as an alternative drug. This plant contains various compounds, like anthraquinone, saponin, flavonoid, alkaloid, and tannin that has an antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Both of it were responsible for the infection incident. This study aims to determine the efficacy of Aloe vera sap as an antibacterial against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Methods An experimental study, in vitro using post-test only control group design, has been done at laboratory of Medical Faculty of Sriwijaya University, by examining the antibacterial activity of Aloe vera sap in five different concentration (5%, 10%, 20%, 40%, dan 80%) using well diffusion and solid dillusion method to determine the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). And then continued with the phytocemical screening to determine the compound inside the Aloe vera sap. Results Aloe vera sap were able to kill Staphylococcus aureus at 5% and Eshcerichia coli at 80%. Compatibility test showed that Aloe vera sap with concentration of 10%, 20%, 40%, and 80% are compatible with amoxicillin, therefore 80% is compatible with cefotaxime. This ability due to the compound that it contains, which is alkaloid, flavonoid, tannin, quinone, and saponin. Conclusion Aloe vera sap is effective as an antibacterial against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.   Keyword: Aloe vera sap, antibacterial, efficacy, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli.  

Background. Use of herbal compounds as an intracanal medicament in the field of endodontics has become noteworthy, one of which is the Aloe vera compound whose antibacterial effect has already been proven in the planktonic form of Enterococcus faecalis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the antibacterial effect of Aloe vera on E. faecalis biofilms at the 4th and 6th week of development. Materials and Methods. 130 single root canal teeth without anomalies and caries were used. They were divided into two groups of 65 teeth for four and six weeks of biofilm production. Five samples of each group were examined for confirmation of biofilm formation under an electron microscope. Study groups were investigated with an antimicrobial agent as an intracanal medicament including 20 samples treated with Aloe vera, calcium hydroxide, and phosphate-buffered saline, and biofilm and survival of pathogens were investigated. Dentin chip suspensions were used for colony-forming unit (CFU) counting to estimate remaining E. faecalis counts. Results. The CFU mean in the 4th week subgroup in Aloe vera, phosphate-buffered saline, and calcium hydroxide was 0, 69166.66 ± 31688.58, and 25000 ± 30822.07, and in the 6th week, it was 136.36 ± 323.33, 95000 ± 12247.44, and 27501.66 ± 36570.34, respectively, which showed a significant difference between the used materials (). Conclusion. Aloe vera, in contrast to calcium hydroxide, eliminated 4th and 6th week biofilms and showed remarkable antibacterial properties against E. faecalis biofilm. These results support potency of Aloe vera to use as a natural antimicrobial material in the intracanal medicament.