In the last few decades，more than 3000 products, derived from marine sources, have been discovered (1). Among the studied Fucoidan has high biocompatibility, lack of toxicity, which has been extensively investigated in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, biomedical and cosmeceutical applications, including dietary fibers, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, hepatoprotective and anti-coagulant properties, and drug carrier functionality (2-5) providing great potential for designing drugs for biomedical use on the Fucoidan basis.
In a recent double-blind randomized placebo control study published in the March 2020 issue of Marine Drugs journal, set out to provide a first unbiased insight how one particular Fucoidan preparation from Undaria pinnatifida (UPF) would affect the plasma microRNA (miRNA) composition in healthy individuals. (6)
What is Fucoidan?
Fucoidan is a natural sulfated polysaccharide molecule, and part of the cell wall of brown algae (7). Fucoidans from different marine sources are typically extracted in a water bath, acid bath, or other methods. The bioactivity of Fucoidans varies according to the extraction method and its molecular weight (Mw) can vary from 10,000 to 100,000 Da depending on the sample source. (8-10)
A polysaccharide from Fucoidan contains a substantial percentage of L-fucose and sulfate groups, which is one of the main structural or chemical factors bound together with sulfate, along with various minerals absorbed from the ocean. Because the molecular structure of Fucoidan is very different, so it has various biological and pharmacological activities that are beneficial to therapeutic applications including digestive health, immune modulation, anti-inflammation, viral inhibition, anti-cancer, stem cell mobilization, cardiovascular health, skin protection, and anti-aging. (11)
For centuries, the brown algae containing Fucoidan is widely consumed as part of the normal diet in East Asia, particularly China, Japan and Korea for human health. Additionally, Fucoidan, a water-soluble dietary fiber, is easily dissolved in water, very easy to be absorbed by the human body to use, no toxic effects on the body, rarely causes irritation reactions.
Fucoidan is an innovative marine ingredient and ongoing research continues to reveal the extraordinary health benefits. Now some Fucoidan extracts have obtained ‘generally recognized as safe’ (GRAS) status in the U.S. and received ‘novel foods’ approval in the EU. Support for the use of Fucoidan as a disease-assisted diet supplement is increasing.
Clinical Study
Scientists at Australia, have provided breakthrough research and application of Fucoidan – the unique marine ingredient that naturally occurs in brown algae. (12)
In the first worldwide clinical trial of its kind, males, 25–65 of years, with no health conditions were recruited by an Australian research group. All participators ingested a single dose of 1 gram of Fucoidan extract from the seaweed Undaria pinnatifida/capsule or placebo. Blood samples were taken immediately before the study capsules were ingested and 24 h. later, then microRNAs were isolated and analyzed. The research found that out of 754 microRNAs screened, Fucoidan extract affected a total of 53 microRNAs, among these, 29 different biological pathways and processes were related to cell surface receptor signaling, cancer-related pathways, and 9 additional pathways and processes were identified that have not previously been associated with Fucoidan including renal cancer and circadian rhythm.
This clinical trial, for the first time, has indicated that the unique polysaccharide Fucoidan, derived from brown algae, can alter regulatory microRNA (miRNAs) in healthy individuals. The results support the known inhibitory effects of Fucoidan in inflammation, cancer, and neurological disorders. Furthermore, the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway was also shown to be affected, supporting the previously documented antidepressant effects of Fucoidan.
The study also confirmed previously published findings demonstrating that Fucoidan has beneficial effects on immunity, cancer cells, inflammation, and neurological disorders. Finally, they have concluded that even a single dose of Fucoidan has the potential to alter the gene expression related to fundamental cellular processes. These are v...
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