Evaluation of Anti-Nociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of a Heterofucan from Dictyota menstrualis

Abstract

Fucan is a term that defines a family of homo- and hetero-polysaccharides containing sulfated l-fucose in its structure. In this work, a heterofucan (F2.0v) from the seaweed, Dictyota menstrualis, was evaluated as an antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory agent. F2.0v (20.0 mg/kg) inhibits 100% of leukocyte migration into the peritoneal cavity after chemical stimulation. However, F2.0v does not alter the expression of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), as well as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). F2.0v (20.0 mg/kg) has peripheral antinociceptive activity with potency similar to dipyrone. On the other hand, it had no effect on pain response on the hot plate test. Confocal microscopy analysis and flow cytometry showed that F2.0v binds to the surface of leucocytes, which leads us to suggest that the mechanism of action of anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive F2.0v is related to its ability to inhibit the migration of leukocytes to the site of tissue injury. In summary, the data show that F2.0v compound has great potential as an antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory, and future studies will be performed to further characterize the mechanism of action of F2.0v.

Seaweeds in Human Health

“…Heterofucan from Dictyota menstrualis was reported to have antinociceptive effect in the acetic acid-induced writhing tests while the hot plate test showed no effect in mice (Albuquerque et al, 2013). Heterofucan from Dictyota menstrualis was reported to have antinociceptive effect in the acetic acid-induced writhing tests while the hot plate test showed no effect in mice (Albuquerque et al, 2013).…”

Structural Study of Sulfated Fuco-Oligosaccharide Branched Glucuronomannan fromKjellmaniella crassifoliaby ESI-CID-MS/MS

“…Sulfated polysaccharides, especially fucoidans, extracted from some brown algae and invertebrates have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to their interesting biological activities, for example, anticoagulant, [1,2] anti-inflammatory, [3,4] and antioxidative activities. [5][6][7] However, the relationship between the structure of fucoidans and their biological activities has not been clarified because of the complexity of their structure.…”

Marine Pharmacology in 2012–2013: Marine Compounds with Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antifungal, Anti-Inflammatory, Antiprotozoal, Antituberculosis, and Antiviral Activities; Affecting the Immune and Nervous Systems, and Other Miscellaneous Mechanisms of Action

“…A number of publications during 2012–2013 reported extracts or structurally uncharacterized marine compounds, with novel and interesting preclinical and/or clinical pharmacology: in vitro antimalarial activity in crude extracts from Fiji marine organisms using a semi-automated RNA fluorescence-based high-content live cell-imaging assay [10]; the first report of in vitro liver stage antiplasmodial activity and dual stage inhibitory potential of British seaweeds [11]; anti-hepatitis C virus activity affecting the viral helicase NS3 and replication, in crude extracts from the marine feather star Alloeocomatella polycladia [12]; anti-herpes simplex virus HSV-1 and HSV-2 activity in a purified sulfoglycolipid fraction from the Brazilian marine alga Osmundaria obtusiloba [13]; in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of a heterofucan from the Brazilian seaweed Dictyota menstrualis that inhibited leukocyte migration to sites of tissue injury by binding to the cell membrane [14]; in vivo antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity in a crude methanolic extract of the red alga Bryothamnion triquetrum [15]; in vivo anti-inflammatory activity in a sulfate polysaccharide fraction from the red alga Gracilaria caudata resulting in significant inhibition of neutrophil migration and cytokine release [16]; in vitro anti-inflammatory effect of a hexane-soluble fraction of the brown alga Laminaria japonica that inhibited nitric oxide, prostaglandin E 2 , interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 release from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages via inactivation of nuclear factor-κB transcription factor [17]; in vivo anti-inflammatory of a polysaccharide-rich fraction from the marine red alga Lithothamnion muelleri that reduced organ injury and lethality, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, associated with graft-versus-host disease in mice [18]; in vivo clinical effectiveness in an osteoarthritis trial by PCSO-524 TM , a nonpolar lipid extract from the New Zealand marine green lipped mussel Perna canaliculus , which may offer “potential alternative complementary therapy with no side effects for osteoarthritis patients” [19]; enhanced antioxidant activity of chitosan nanoparticles as compared to chitosan on hydrogen peroxide-induced stress injury in mouse macrophages in vitro [20]; induction of concentration-dependent vasoconstrictive activity on isolated rat aorta by a tentacle extract from the jellyfish Cyanea capillata [21]; significant antioxidant effect of a sulfated-polysaccharide fraction of the marine red alga Gracilaria birdiae which prevented naproxen-induced gastrointestinal damage in rats by reversing glutathione depletion [22]; in vitro antioxidant properties of a polysaccharide from the brown seaweed Sargassum graminifolium (Turn.) that was also observed to inhibit calcium oxalate crystallization, a constituent of urinary kidney stones [23]; antioxidant activity in organic extracts from 30 species of Hawaiian marine algae, with the carotenoid fucoxanthin identified as the major bioactive antioxidant compound in the brown alga T. ornata [24]; screening of antioxidant activity in 18 cyanobacteria and 23 microalgae cell extracts identified Scenedesmus obliquus strai...…”