Abstract
Fucoidans are cell wall polysaccharides found in various species of brown seaweeds. They are fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides (FCSPs) and comprise 5–20% of the algal dry weight. Fucoidans possess multiple bioactivities, including antioxidant, anticoagulant, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-lipidemic, anti-metastatic, anti-diabetic and anti-cancer effects. Dietary fucoidans provide small but constant amounts of FCSPs to the intestinal tract, which can reorganize the composition of commensal microbiota altered by FCSPs, and consequently control inflammation symptoms in the intestine. Although the bioactivities of fucoidans have been well described, there is limited evidence to implicate their effect on gut microbiota and bowel health. In this review, we summarize the recent studies that introduce the fundamental characteristics of various kinds of fucoidans and discuss their potential in altering commensal microorganisms and influencing intestinal diseases.
Highlights
Living animals, including humans, ingest food and digest it to obtain essential nutrients for maintaining physical strength
In this review, we provide an overview of the diversity of the structural and chemical composition of fucoidans and their possible immunological effects on the intestine accompanied by gut microbiota alteration
As the intestine is closely associated with nutrient uptake, natural compounds have been studied as potential therapeutic agents to enhance intestinal immunity in humans
Summary
Living animals, including humans, ingest food and digest it to obtain essential nutrients for maintaining physical strength. Fucoidan extracts have been widely used in various health care products including food supplements [10] and cosmetics [11], their bioactivities were reported to be sensitive to alterations in their structural composition. Understanding their functional properties are complicated since it is dependent on fucoidan extraction methods and the different seaweed species [12]. The intestine is the most dynamic and the largest compartment of the immune system where nutrient digestion and absorption take place It plays a critical role in host immunity to maintain intestinal homeostasis through several interactions between immune cells and microbes, and the immune cells actively monitor, recognize, and differentiate food antigens from external antigens including pathogens [14]. We suggest the prospective application of fucoidan in modulating host intestinal diseases
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