Abstract
Fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides (FCSPs) extracted from seaweeds, especially brown macro-algae, are known to possess essential bioactive properties, notably growth inhibitory effects on tumor cells. In this work, we conducted a series of in vitro studies to examine the influence of FCSPs products from Sargassum henslowianum C. Agardh (FSAR) and Fucus vesiculosus (FVES), respectively, on proliferation of melanoma B16 cells and to investigate the underlying apoptosis promoting mechanisms. Cell viability analysis showed that both FCSPs products, i.e., FSAR and FVES, decreased the proliferation of the melanoma cells in a dose-response fashion, with FSAR being more potent at lower dosages, and FVES being relatively more anti-proliferative than FSAR at higher dosages. Flow cytometric analysis by Annexin V staining of the melanoma cells exposed to the FCSPs products confirmed that both FSAR and FVES induced apoptosis. The FCSPs-induced apoptosis was evidenced by loss of plasma membrane asymmetry and translocation of the cell membrane phospholipids and was accompanied by the activation of caspase-3. The FCSPs bioactivity is proposed to be attributable to distinct structural features of the FCSPs, particularly the presence of sulfated galactofucans (notably in S. henslowianum) and sulfated fucans (notably in F. vesiculosus). This study thus indicates that unfractionated FCSPs may exert bioactive effects on skin cancer cells via induction of apoptosis through cascades of reactions that involve activation of caspase-3.
Highlights
Fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides (FCSPs) designate a group of diverse polysaccharides that can be extracted from brown seaweeds of the class Phaeophyceae
In accordance with previous data [13], we found that unfractionated FCSPs, i.e., from the Sargassum sp. (FSAR) and FVES, extracted from the brown seaweeds S. henslowianum and F. vesiculosus, respectively, were composed of fucose, galactose, xylose, mannose and glucuronic acid, and showed that the fucose, galactose and glucuronic acid contents differed significantly among the two FCSPs products, but that their sulfate contents were similar (Table 1)
The biological activities of the FCSPS against skin cancer cells were investigated in vitro, and the results revealed that both FSAR and FVES can exert anti-proliferative effects on melanoma B16 cells in vitro
Summary
Fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides (FCSPs) designate a group of diverse polysaccharides that can be extracted from brown seaweeds of the class Phaeophyceae. This seaweed class includes the order Fucales, in which seaweed species such as Fucus sp. FCSPs, originally called fucoidin, fucoidan or just fucans, have a backbone built of (1→3)-linked α-L-fucopyranosyl residues or of alternating (1→3)- and (1→4)-linked α-L-fucopyranosyl residues [1,2]. These fucopyranosyl residues may be substituted with short fucoside side chains or sulfate groups at. It has been understood that the compositional and structural features of FCSPs differ significantly among seaweed species and that these features are markedly influenced by the conditions used to extract them [3,6]
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