Low Molecular Weight Fucoidan from Saccharina Japonica Ameliorates the Antioxidant Capacity and Reduces Plaque Areas in Aorta in Apoe-Deficient Mice with Atherosclerosis

Abstract

Low molecular weight fucoidan (LMWF) extracted from Saccharina japonica exhibits many biological activities including immune regulation and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis, but little research has been done for its antioxidant effect in atherosclerosis (AS). In this study, AS modeling was successfully conducted in ApoE-/- mice by feeding atherogenic diet to animals. The antioxidant activity of LMWF was verified by determining its superoxide anion radical scavenging ability and hydroxyl radical scavenging ability. LMWF significantly increased the antioxidant capacity of AS mice, this conclusion being confirmed by total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) assay. Test results confirmed that LMWF can enhance T-AOC by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) levels and increasing glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) level in myocardium and liver tissues of AS mice. The results showed that LMWF and probucol had comparable antioxidant effects on AS, and when combined, no further antioxidant effect was achieved.