Fucoidans activity

Specihc poly anions such as dextran sulfate (DS) appear to exhibit strong anti-HIV activity in vitro [36,37]. Human oral administration of DS is poorly absorbed, but intravaneous administration does result in increased plasma lipolytic activity [38]. Poly anions that have been considered for intravaginal anti-HIV activity include DS, carrageenan, heparin, heparan sulfate, dermatan sulfate, pentosan polysulfate, fucoidan chondroitin sulfate, keratan sulfate, and PAVAS [21,22,39,40],... 

Cumashi, A., Ushakova, N. A., Preobrazhenskaya, M. E., D Incecco, A., Piccoli, A., Totani, L., Tinari, N., Morozevich, G. E., Berman, A. E., Bilan, M. I., Usov, A. I., Ustyuzhanina, N. E., et al. (2007). A comparative study of the anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antiangio-genic, and antiadhesive activities of nine different fucoidans from brown seaweeds. Glycobiology 17, 541-552. 

The anionic groups Most of the seaweed polysaccharides with antiviral activity carry only sulfate as their anionic group. Nevertheless, in the case of fucoidans both sulfate groups and uronic acids are present. Sulfated seaweed polysaccharides with degrees of sulfation lower than 20-22% usually do not show activity, unless other structural factors compensate the sulfate deficiency. 

Both molecular mass and sulfate content of fucoidan played very important roles in the effects on the azo radicals 2-2 -azobis (2-amidino-propane)dihydrochloride-induced LDL oxidation (Li et al., 2006). The correlation between the sulfate content and scavenging superoxide radical ability was positive, the ratio of sulfate content/fucose was an effective indicator to antioxidant activity of the samples (Wang et al., 2008). 

The elevated urinary protein excretion and plasma creatinine due to the induction of Heymann nephritis were significantly reduced by fucoidan from L. japonica by oral intubation. This indicated that fucoidan has a renoprotective effect on active Heymaim nephritis and is a promising therapeutic agent for nephritis (Zhang et ah, 2005). 

FIGURE 103 Generalized representation of the inhibitory effects of seaweed phlor-otannins and fucoidans on MMP activity. 

Marine algae are potentially prolific sources of highly bioactive components that might represent useful leads in the development of new pharmaceutical agents and functional foods. This chapter discusses the current literature on biological activities of sulfated polysaccharides, fucoidans, from brown seaweeds. The profound functional properties of fucoidans could be employed in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical functional food, and cosmeceutical... 

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