Fucoidan: Structure and Bioactivity

Abstract

Fucoidan refers to a type of polysaccharide which contains substantial percentages of l-fucose and sulfate ester groups, mainly derived from brown seaweed. For the past decade fucoidan has been extensively studied due to its numerous interesting biological activities. Recently the search for new drugs has raised interest in fucoidans. In the past few years, several fucoidans’ structures have been solved, and many aspects of their biological activity have been elucidated. This review summarizes the research progress on the structure and bioactivity of fucoidan and the relationships between structure and bioactivity.

Cosmeceuticals Derived from Bioactive Substances Found in Marine Algae

“…In 1993, using GC/MS methylation data, Patankar et al revised this structural model suggesting that the core region of fucoidan was primarily a polymer of α-(1→3) linked fucose with sulfate groups substituted at the C-4 position on some of the fucose residues [57]. Fucose was also attached to this polymer to form branched points, one for every 2-3 fucose residues within the chain ( Figure 6) [58].…”

Process Development for Deordorization of Fucoidan Using a Combined Method of Solvent Extraction and Spray Drying

“…후코이단은 갈조류의 채취시기 및 종에 따라 평균 분자량이 100,000-2,000,000 Da 으로 다양하며, 후코이단의 생리활성에 중요한 영향을 미치는 fucose 함량 및 황산기 함량도 차이가 난다 [12].…”

Seaweed Tea: Fucoidan-Rich Functional Food Product Development from Malaysian Brown Seaweed, Sargassum binderi

“…Since the past decade, there has been a lot of focus on bioactive sulphated polysaccharides extracted from brown seaweeds. These functional polysaccharides, including fucoidan, alginates and laminarans, exhibited diverse biological characteristics, including anti-coagulant, anti-inflammatory, antivirus, antitumour and anti-oxidative activities (Li et al 2008). It was reported by Wang et al (2010) that the presence of sulphate groups in fucoidan promotes its anti-oxidative activity.…”