Fucoidan Treatment Research Articles

Fucoidan-induced ID-1 suppression inhibits the in vitro and in vivo invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a fast growing tumor associated with a high tendency for vascular invasion and distant metastasis. Recently, we reported that fucoidan displays inhibitory effect on proliferation and invasion of HCC cells. In this study, we investigated the anti-metastatic effect of fucoidan on HCC cells and the key signal that modulates metastasis. The anti-metastatic effect of fucoidan was evaluated in vitro using an invasion assay with human HCC cells (Huh-7, SNU-761, and SNU-3085) under both normoxic (20% O2 and 5% CO2, at 37°C) and hypoxic (1% O2, 5% CO2, and 94% N2, at 37°C) conditions. Complementary DNA (cDNA) microarray analysis was performed to find the molecule which is significantly suppressed by fucoidan. In vivo study using a distant metastasis model by injecting SNU-761 cells into spleen via portal vein was performed to confirm the inhibitory effect by small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection. Immunoblot analyses were used to investigate the signaling pathway. Fucoidan significantly suppressed the invasion of human HCC cells (Huh-7, SNU-761, and SNU-3085). Using cDNA microarray analysis, we found the molecule, ID-1, which was significantly suppressed by fucoidan treatment. Downregulation of ID-1 by siRNA significantly decreased invasion of HCC cells, both in vitro and in vivo (both P<0.05) in a NDRG-1/CAP43-dependent manner. In immunoblot assay, downregulation of ID-1 by siRNA decreased the expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers including CK19, vimentin, MMP2, and fibronectin. Immunofluorescence study also revealed that actin rearrangement was inhibited when ID-1 was down-regulated in HCC cells. Interestingly, in SNU-761 cells, the ID-1 expressions under hypoxic conditions were lower as compared to those under normoxic conditions. Under hypoxic conditions, HIF-1α up-regulated NDRG-1/CAP43, while HIF-2α down-regulated ID-1, which might be a compensatory phenomenon against hypoxia-induced HCC invasion. In conclusion, NDRG-1/CAP43-dependent down-regulation of ID-1 suppressed HCC invasion both in vitro and in vivo, which was modulated by fucoidan treatment. Moreover, the compensatory down-regulation of ID-1 against hypoxia-induced HCC invasion was observed. ID-1 is a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of metastatic HCC.

Fucoidan Induces Cell Aggregation and Apoptosis in Osteosarcoma MG-63 Cells

ABSTRACTFucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide found in brown algae, possesses various biological activities including anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of fucoidan on the cell growth and morphology of human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells and found that fucoidan induces cell aggregation and apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells when the cells are treated with fucoidan upon seeding before becoming stably attached to the plates. Typical characteristics of apoptotic cells such as chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation were observed in fucoidan-treated cells. The number of annexin V-stained cells was increased by fucoidan treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Consistent with these results, cell viability and growth rate were decreased and cell spreading was inhibited in the presence of fucoidan, leading to rounded morphological changes of the cells. Our results demonstrate that fucoidan treatment results in cell aggregation through F-actin accumulation at the rounded cell cortex and apoptosis in osteosarcoma MG-63 cells.

Fucoidan Extracted from Hijiki Protects Brain Microvessel Endothelial Cells Against Diesel Exhaust Particle Exposure-Induced Disruption.

This study was performed to evaluate the protective effects of fucoidan against the decreased function of primary cultured bovine brain microvessel endothelial cells (BBMECs) after exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEPs). BBMECs were extracted from bovine brains and cultured until confluent. To evaluate the function of BBMECs, we performed a permeability test using cell-by-cell equipment and by Western blot analysis for zonular occludens-1 (ZO-1), which is a tight junction protein of BMECs, and evaluated oxidative stress in BBMECs using the DCFH-DA assay and the CUPRAC-BCS assay. The increased oxidative stress in BBMECs following DEP exposure was suppressed by fucoidan. In addition, permeability of BBMECs induced by DEP exposure was decreased by fucoidan treatment. Our results showed that fucoidan protects against BBMEC disruption induced by DEP exposure. This study provides evidence that fucoidan might protect the central nervous system (CNS) against DEP exposure.

Fucoidan prevents LPS-induced production of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 by inhibiting MAPK-mediated signal pathways in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells

Abstract Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide that is primarily extracted from brown seaweeds which has been broadly studied in recent years due to its numerous biological properties, including anticoagulant, antithrombotic, antitumor, and antiviral activities. In this study, we investigated whether fucoidan has the ability to attenuate the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators such as NO, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), TNF-α, and IL-1β in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Fucoidan inhibited the expression of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediators including NO, PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-1β. In addition, gene expression of iNOS, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), TNF-α, and IL-1β was inhibited both at mRNA and protein levels by fucoidan treatment, without any cytotoxic effect. Moreover, fucoidan significantly inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB activity NF-κB translocation into the nucleus by preventing the degradation of iκB-α. Taken together, these results indicate that fucoidan downregulates the expression of pro-inflammatory genes involved in the synthesis of NO, PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-1β in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells by suppressing NF-κB activity.

Fucoidan improves serum lipid levels and atherosclerosis through hepatic SREBP-2-mediated regulation

Hyperlipidemia is associated with increased risk of the development of cardiovascular diseases. Although a great deal of attention has been paid to the hypolipidemic activity of fucoidan, complex polysaccharides from brown seaweeds, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. This study was performed to investigate whether and how fucoidan has lipid-lowering potential in poloxamer-407 (P407)-induced hyperlipidemic mice. Fucoidan treatment 2 h after acute administration of P407 in these mice significantly reduced serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol levels, but increased the levels of HDL cholesterol. In HepG2 hepatocytes and the liver, fucoidan decreased the expression of FAS and ACC mRNA with no or only a moderate inhibitory effect on SREBP-1c mRNA expression. Furthermore, fucoidan attenuated the hepatic expression of mature SREBP-2 protein with a subsequent decrease in hepatic HMG-CoA reductase mRNA expression and an increase in hepatic LDL receptor mRNA expression. In addition, atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta of chronically P407-treated mice were also reduced by fucoidan. These findings indicate that fucoidan improves serum lipid levels by regulating the expression of key enzymes of cholesterol and triglyceride syntheses in the liver through modulation of SREBP-2.

Fucoidan from Fucus vesiculosus Fails to Improve Outcomes Following Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Mice.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the most fatal stroke subtype, with no effective therapies. Hematoma expansion and inflammation play major roles in the pathophysiology of ICH, contributing to primary and secondary brain injury, respectively. Fucoidan, a polysaccharide from the brown seaweed Fucus vesiculosus, has been reported to activate a platelet receptor that may function in limiting bleeding, and to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. As such, the aim of the present study was to examine the effects of fucoidan on hemorrhaging and neurological outcomes after ICH. Male CD-1 mice were subjected to experimental ICH by infusion of bacterial collagenase. Animals were randomly divided into the following groups: sham, ICH + vehicle, ICH + 25 mg/kg fucoidan, ICH + 75 mg/kg fucoidan, and ICH + 100 mg/kg fucoidan. Brain water content, neurobehavioral outcomes, and hemoglobin content were evaluated at 24 h post ICH. Our findings show that fucoidan failed to attenuate the ICH-induced increase in BWC. The neurological deficits that result from ICH also did not differ in the treatment groups at all three doses. Finally, we found that fucoidan had no effect on the hemoglobin content after ICH. We postulate that fucoidan treatment did not improve the measured outcomes after ICH because we used crude fucoidan, which has a high molecular weight, in our study. High-molecular-weight fucoidans are reported to have less therapeutic potential than low molecular weight fucoidans. They have been shown to exhibit anti-coagulant and pro-apoptotic properties, which seem to outweigh their anti-inflammatory and potential procoagulant abilities. We propose that using a low-molecular-weight fucoidan, or fractionating the crude polysaccharide, may be effective in treating ICH. Future studies are needed to confirm this.

Antitumor activity of fucoidan against diffuse large B cell lymphoma in vitro and in vivo.

Fucoidan is one of the major sulfated polysaccharides isolated from brown seaweeds. In this study, we determined the anti-cancer activity of fucoidan on diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cells both in vitro and in vivo. Fucoidan inhibited the growth of DLBCL cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and fucoidan treatment provoked G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, which was accompanied by p21 up-regulation and cyclin D1, Cdk4, and Cdk6 down-regulation. Fucoidan also induced caspase-dependent cell apoptosis in DLBCL cell lines and primary DLBCL cell. In addition, fucoidan treatment caused the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and the release of cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor from the mitochondria into the cytosol. Fucoidan also potentiated the activities of carfilzomib in killing DLBCL cells. Oral administration of fucoidan effectively inhibited tumor growth in xenograft mouse models. Our findings reveal the novel function of fucoidan as an anti-DLBCL agent, which can be used in the clinical treatment of DLBCL.

Fucoidan Elevates MicroRNA-29b to Regulate DNMT3B-MTSS1 Axis and Inhibit EMT in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells.

Accumulating evidence has revealed that fucoidan exhibits anti-tumor activities by arresting cell cycle and inducing apoptosis in many types of cancer cells including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Exploring its effect on microRNA expression, we found that fucoidan markedly upregulated miR-29b of human HCC cells. The induction of miR-29b was accompanied with suppression of its downstream target DNMT3B in a dose-dependent manner. The reduction of luciferase activity of DNMT3B 3′-UTR reporter by fucoidan was as markedly as that by miR-29b mimic, indicating that fucoidan induced miR-29b to suppress DNMT3B. Accordingly, the mRNA and protein levels of MTSS1 (metastasis suppressor 1), a target silenced by DNMT3B, were increased after fucoidan treatment. Furthermore, fucoidan also down-regulated TGF-β receptor and Smad signaling of HCC cells. All these effects leaded to the inhibition of EMT (increased E-cadherin and decreased N-cadherin) and prevention of extracellular matrix degradation (increased TIMP-1 and decreased MMP2, 9), by which the invasion activity of HCC cells was diminished. Our results demonstrate the profound effect of fucoidan not only on the regulation of miR-29b-DNMT3B-MTSS1 axis but also on the inhibition of TGF-β signaling in HCC cells, suggesting the potential of using fucoidan as integrative therapeutics against invasion and metastasis of HCC.

Effects of Fucoidan on Nitric Oxide Production and Activator Protein-1 Activation in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Porcine Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

Fucoidan which is sulfated polysaccharide extracted from brown seaweed has a wide variety of internal biological activities. The objectives of this study were to examine the effect of fucoidan on nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and to investigate whether this effect is involved in the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the activation of activator portein-1 (AP-1). The levels of NO production and AP-1 activity in the culture supernatants from porcine PBMCs were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the levels of iNOS and AP-1 mRNA were determined by real time polymerase chain reaction. Fucoidan in LPS-naive PBMCs has no effects on the production of NO and activity of AP-1. Expressions of iNOS and AP-1 mRNA in LPS-naive PBMCs were also not affected by treatment of fucoidan. However, NO production, AP-1 activity and expressions of iNOS and AP-1 mRNA were dramatically increased in PBMCs stimulated with LPS. Enhancing effects of NO production and AP-1 activity in PBMCs induced by LPS were reduced by addition of fucoidan. Fucoidan also inhibited an increase in expressions of iNOS and AP-1 mRNA in LPS-stimulated PBMCs. These results suggested that fucoidan exerts anti-inflammatory effect by down-regulating production of NO via suppressing expression of iNOS and activity of AP-1 in LPS-stimulated porcine PBMCs.

Fucoidan inhibits proliferation of the SKM-1 acute myeloid leukaemia cell line via the activation of apoptotic pathways and production of reactive oxygen species.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of myeloid disorders characterized by peripheral blood cytopenias and a high risk of progression to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Fucoidan, a complex sulphated polysaccharide isolated from the cell wall of brown seaweeds, has recently attracted attention for its multiple biological activities and its potential as a novel candidate for cancer therapy. In the present study, the anti-cancer activity of fucoidan was investigated in the MDS/AML cell line SKM-1. Fucoidan inhibited proliferation, induced apoptosis and caused G1-phase arrest of the cell cycle in SKM-1 cells as determined by a cell counting kit 8 assay and flow cytometry. Furthermore, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses indicated that treatment with fucoidan (100 µg/ml for 48 h) activated Fas and caspase-8 in SKM-1 cells, which are critical for the extrinsic apoptotic pathway; furthermore, caspase-9 was activated via decreases in phosphoinositide-3 kinase/Akt signaling as indicated by reduced levels of phosphorylated Akt, suggesting the involvement of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. In addition, fucoidan treatment of SKM-1 cells resulted in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as determined by staining with dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate. These results suggested that the mechanisms of the anti-cancer effects of fucoidan in SKM-1 are closely associated with cell cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death, which partly attributed to the activation of apoptotic pathways and accumulation of intracellular ROS. Our results demonstrated that Fucoidan inhibits proliferation and induces the apoptosis of SKM-1 cells, which provides substantial therapeutic potential for MDS treatment.

Abstract 5508: Fucoidan from Turbinaria conoides attenuates pancreatic cancer progession by regulating p53 - NFκB crosstalk

Abstract Poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer (PC) has been attributed to its resistance to apoptosis and propensity for early systemic dissemination. Existing therapeutic strategies are often circumvented by the molecular crosstalk between cell signaling pathways. The fact that p53 is mutated in more than 50% of PC tissues and NFκB is constitutively activated in therapy resistant residual PC accounts for the evaded cell death and dissemination. In this study, we examined the benefit of fucoidan from a marine brown alga, Turbinaria conoides against PC progression. Five fractions of fucoidan isolated and fractionated using ion exchange chromatography were tested for their potential in this setting using two (MiaPaCa-2, Panc-1) genetically diverse human PC cell-lines. All fractions investigated exerted significant dose dependent and time dependent regulation of cell survival. Coherently, fucoidans induced apoptosis and activated caspase -3, -8 and -9 and cleaved PARP. Pathway-specific transcriptional analysis (QPCR profiling) recognized inhibition of 57 and 38 NFκB pathway molecules with fucoidan-F5 in MiaPaCa-2 and Panc-1 cells, respectively. In addition, fucoidan-F5 was also found to inhibit both the constitutive and TNFα mediated NFκB DNA-binding activity (EMSA) in PC cells. Upregulation of cytoplasmic IκB levels and significant reduction of NFκB dependent luciferase activity further substantiate inhibitory potential of seaweed fucoidans on NF-κB. Moreover, fucoidan(s) treatment increases cellular p53 in PC cells. Together, the results suggests that fucoidan regulates PC progression and further imply that fucoidans may selectively target p53-NFκB crosstalk and dictate apoptosis in PC cells. Citation Format: Caroline R. Delma, Guru Prasad Srinivasan, Nune Raviprakash, Sunil K. Manna, Somasundaram T. Somasundaram, Natarajan Aravindan. Fucoidan from Turbinaria conoides attenuates pancreatic cancer progession by regulating p53 - NFκB crosstalk. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 5508. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-5508

Fucoidan reduces inflammatory response in a rat model of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury after a liver transplant is a major cause of severe complications that lead to graft dysfunction. Fucoidan, a complex of sulfated polysaccharides derived from marine brown algae, demonstrated antiapoptotic as well as potential anti-inflammatory properties in previous studies. Fucoidan has also shown protective effects on I/R-injured kidney and heart. However, whether fucoidan can attenuate hepatic I/R injury has not been examined. To clarify the role of fucoidan in hepatic I/R injury, Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to sham operation or ischemia followed by reperfusion with treatment of saline or fucoidan (50, 100, or 200 mg·(kg body mass)(-1)·d(-1)). The fucoidan-treated group showed decreased levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase compared with the control group. Myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde activities and mRNA levels of CD11b in the fucoidan-treated group were significantly decreased. Hepatocellular swelling/necrosis, sinusoidal/vascular congestion, and inflammatory cell infiltration were also attenuated in the fucoidan group. The expression of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, CXCL-10, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 were markedly decreased in the samples from the fucoidan-treated group. Fucoidan largely prevented activation of the inflammatory signaling pathway, compared with the control group. In summary, fucoidan can protect the liver from I/R injury through suppressing activation of the inflammatory signaling pathway, as well as the expression of inflammatory mediators, and inflammatory cell infiltration.

Antitumor Effects of Fucoidan on Human Colon Cancer Cells via Activation of Akt Signaling.

We identified a novel Akt signaling mechanism that mediates fucoidan-induced suppression of human colon cancer cell (HT29) proliferation and anticancer effects. Fucoidan treatment significantly inhibited growth, induced G1-phase-associated upregulation of p21WAF1 expression, and suppressed cyclin and cyclin-dependent kinase expression in HT29 colon cancer cells. Additionally, fucoidan treatment activated the Akt signaling pathway, which was inhibited by treatment with an Akt inhibitor. The inhibition of Akt activation reversed the fucoidan-induced decrease in cell proliferation, the induction of G1-phase-associated p21WAF1 expression, and the reduction in cell cycle regulatory protein expression. Intraperitoneal injection of fucoidan reduced tumor volume; this enhanced antitumor efficacy was associated with induction of apoptosis and decreased angiogenesis. These data suggest that the activation of Akt signaling is involved in the growth inhibition of colon cancer cells treated with fucoidan. Thus, fucoidan may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for colon cancer.

Fucoidan induces G1 arrest of the cell cycle in EJ human bladder cancer cells through down-regulation of pRB phosphorylation

Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide found in marine algae and brown seaweeds, has been shown to inhibit the in vitro growth of human cancer cells. This study was conducted in cultured human bladder cancer EJ cells to elucidate the possible mechanisms by which fucoidan exerts its anti-proliferative activity, which until now has remained poorly understood. Fucoidan treatment of EJ cells resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth and induced apoptotic cell death. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that fucoidan led to G1 arrest in cell cycle progression. It was associated with down-regulation of cyclin D1, cyclin E, and cyclin-dependent-kinases (Cdks) in a concentration-dependent manner, without any change in Cdk inhibitors, such as p21 and p27. Furthermore, dephosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRB) by this compound was associated with enhanced binding of pRB with the transcription factors E2F-1 and E2F-4. Overall, our results demonstrate that fucoidan possesses anticancer activity potential against bladder cancer cells by inhibiting pRB phosphorylation.

Effects of fucoidan on cell morphology and migration in osteoblasts

Fucoidan has been reported to induce the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblastic cells. Here we investigated the effects of fucoidan on the morphology and migration of osteoblasts and found that the effects of fucoidan on the migration of osteoblasts vary depending on the conditions under which the cells are treated. A migration assay using cells treated with fucoidan before stable attachment on plates showed slightly increased migration of fucoidan-treated cells compared to control cells, whereas wound healing experiments using stably attached cells exhibited a slightly decreased migration. The fucoidan-treated cells became shrunk and rounded and showed significantly decreased spreading and adhesion compared to control cells. F-actin was highly accumulated at the rounded cell cortex by fucoidan treatment. These studies suggest that the slightly increased migration of cells in the presence of fucoidan might be correlated to the morphological changes and decreased adhesion.

Low-Molecular-Weight Fucoidan Inhibits the Viability and Invasiveness and Triggers Apoptosis in IL-1β-Treated Human Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblast Synoviocytes.

Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide found mainly in various species of brown algae and brown seaweed. Here, we investigated the effects of low-molecular-weight (LMW) fucoidan (4kDa) on interleukin-1beta (IL-1β)-stimulated rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocyte (RAFLS). 3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay and annexin V/propidium iodide assay were used to assess cell viability and apoptosis, respectively. Transwell assay was performed to evaluate cell invasion. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis was done to measure gene expression and secretion. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) DNA binding activity was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. LMW fucoidan dose-dependently inhibited the viability and induced apoptosis of IL-1β-treated RAFLS. Fucoidan attenuated IL-1β-induced invasion of RAFLS and decreased the expression and secretion of metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9. Fucoidan suppressed NF-κB binding activity, p65 nuclear translocation, and IκB-α degradation in IL-1β-stimulated RAFLS. Additionally, IL-1β-induced phosphorylation of p38 but not ERK or JNK was significantly impaired by fucoidan treatment. LMW fucoidan reduces the viability, survival, and invasiveness of IL-1β-treated RAFLS, which is associated with inhibition of NF-κB and p38 activation. LMW fucoidan may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Effects of fucoidan on proliferation, AMP-activated protein kinase, and downstream metabolism- and cell cycle-associated molecules in poorly differentiated human hepatoma HLF cells.

Survival rates are low in patients with poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide derived from brown seaweed, has anticancer activity; however, the effects of fucoidan on poorly differentiated HCC remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of fucoidan on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a proliferation regulator, and its downstream metabolism- and cell cycle-related molecules in a poorly differentiated human hepatoma HLF cell line. HLF cells were treated with fucoidan (10, 50, or 100 µg/ml; n=4) or phosphate buffered saline (control; n=4) for 96 h. Proliferation was evaluated by counting cells every 24 h. AMPK, TSC2, mTOR, GSK3β, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), ATP-citrate lyase, p53, cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4, and CDK6 expression and/or phosphorylation were examined by immunoblotting 24 h after treatment with 100 µg/ml fucoidan. Cell cycle progression was analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorter 48 h after treatment. Treatment with 50 or 100 µg/ml fucoidan significantly and dose- and time-dependently suppressed HLF cell proliferation (P<0.0001). Fucoidan induced AMPK phosphorylation on Ser172 24 h after treatment. Although no differences were seen in expression and phosphorylation levels of TSC2, mTOR, GSK3β, ATP-citrate lyase, and p53 between the control and fucoidan-treated HLF cells, fucoidan induced ACC phosphorylation on Ser79. Moreover, fucoidan decreased cyclin D1, CDK4 and CDK6 expression 24 h after treatment. Furthermore, HLF cells were arrested in the G1/S phase 48 h after fucoidan treatment. We demonstrated that fucoidan suppressed HLF cell proliferation with AMPK phosphorylation. We showed that fucoidan phosphorylated ACC and downregulated cyclin D1, CDK4 and CDK6 expression. Our findings suggest that fucoidan inhibits proliferation through AMPK-associated suppression of fatty acid synthesis and G1/S transition in HLF cells.

Fucoidan from Fucus vesiculosus protects against alcohol-induced liver damage by modulating inflammatory mediators in mice and HepG2 cells.

Fucoidan is an l-fucose-enriched sulfated polysaccharide isolated from brown algae and marine invertebrates. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of fucoidan from Fucus vesiculosus on alcohol-induced murine liver damage. Liver injury was induced by oral administration of 25% alcohol with or without fucoidan (30 mg/kg or 60 mg/kg) for seven days. Alcohol administration increased serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels, but these increases were suppressed by the treatment of fucoidan. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), a liver fibrosis-inducing factor, was highly expressed in the alcohol-fed group and human hepatoma HepG2 cell; however, the increase in TGF-β1 expression was reduced following fucoidan administration. Treatment with fucoidan was also found to significantly reduce the production of inflammation-promoting cyclooygenase-2 and nitric oxide, while markedly increasing the expression of the hepatoprotective enzyme, hemeoxygenase-1, on murine liver and HepG2 cells. Taken together, the antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects of fucoidan on alcohol-induced liver damage may provide valuable insights into developing new therapeutics or interventions.

Effect of Fucoidan Dietary Supplement on the Chemotherapy Treatment of Patients with Unresectable Advanced Gastric Cancer

In Japan, S-1 plus cisplatin has become a standard regimen for the treatment of unresectable advanced gastric cancer; however, many patients are unable to continue effective chemotherapy because of the regimen’s severe side effects. Thus, control of drug toxicity is key to prolonging patient survival. Fucoidan is a major sulfated polysaccharide found in brown seaweeds and has a wide range of biological activities. In the present study, we analyzed the effect of fucoidan on suppressing the toxicity of chemotherapy drugs. Twenty-four patients with unresectable advanced gastric cancer underwent treatment with S-1 plus cisplatin and were randomly allocated into a fucoidan treatment group (n = 12) or a control group without fucoidan treatment (n = 12). The study results demonstrated that fucoidan controlled the occurrence of fatigue during chemotherapy and patients could continue chemotherapy for longer time periods by maintaining the patients’ favorable nourishment status. As a result, the survival of patients with fucoidan treatment was longer than that of patients without fucoidan. Thus, fucoidan should be included as a key food supplement for patients with gastrointestinal carcinomas who are suffering from the adverse side effects of chemotherapy.

Evaluation of Fucoidan Bioactivity as Anti Gastric Ulcers in Mice

Fucoidan is a polysaccharide compounds containing sulfate group. Fucoidan is found in brown seaweed. In this study, we assess fucoidan activity extracted from brown seaweed Sargassum crassifolium origin from Binuangeun, Banten. Fucoidan extract was tested in mice in vivo. Observations were carried out during 16 days the control (without fucoidan) and fucoidan treatment. Fucoidan were given in various concentration of 100, 200, 300, 400ppm. On the 14th day, aspirin was given to mice with pre-treated fucoidan 400ppm as gastric ulcer induction. The fucoidan extracts compositions showed: water content 3.11%, uronic acid 556ppm, 0.12ppm sulfate and 1648ppm total carbohydrate. Results from histopathology assay in mice tissue stomach showed that 100ppm of fucoidan can inhibit gastric ulcers caused by 400ppm aspirin irritation. Fucoidan was associated with an increase in the mucus layer in the gastric mucosa.