Sulfated polysaccharides biological activities

As a result of heparin s multiplicity of biological activities and its importance as a major pharmaceutical, other polysaccharides and modified polysaccharides have been examined as potential heparin analogues in drug development (1). These heparin analogues include other GAGs, other non-GAGs, sulfated polysaccharides from plant and animal origins such as lam-... 

Heparinoid polysaccharides such as heparan sulfate and heparin are able to interact with numerous proteins and influence vital biological processes. Heparinoid mimetics were prepared to reduce the structural complexity of heparinoids and to obtain selectivities. This article summarizes the development of heparinoid mimetics of different classes including representative syntheses and biological activities. Largely simplified compounds with regard to structure and synthetic access are described which maintain or exceed the activity of heparinoid polysaccharides. One of the recipes to increase binding or modify pharmacokinetic parameters was the introduction of hydrophobic groups. 

In addition to valuable physicochemical properties, sulfated polysaccharides of the red algae are promising biologically active polymers, and many structural works already cited aimed at isolation and characterization of new compounds having potential medical application. The most important types of biological activity of sulfated galactans are listed briefly in this section. 

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... 

TABLE 12.1 Biological activities of fucose-rich sulfated polysaccharides and fucoidan isolated from various brown seaweeds... 

Over the years, isolation and purification of natural sulfated polysaccharides responsible for anticoagulant activity from different seaweed species had been reported (De Zoisa et ah, 2008). The ability of sulfated polysaccharides to interfere with biological systems has a longstanding record, as illustrated with heparin (Huynh et ah, 2001). In addition, anticoagulant and antithrombotic activities are among the most widely studied properties of sulfated polysaccharides. 

In recent years, it has been reported that fucose-rich sulfated polysaccharides isolated from brown seaweeds exhibited antitumor activity which is one of the most important biological activities of seaweeds. 

Wijesekara, 1., Pangestuti, R., and Kim, S.-K. (2011). Biological activities and potential health benefits of sulfated polysaccharides derived from marine algae. Carbohydr. Polym. 84, 14-21. 

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