Antioxidant and anticancer properties of fucoidan isolated from Saccharina Japonica brown algae
Qiulin Yue, Yongxuan Liu, Fan Li, Hong Tao, Shang Guo, Mengrui Cai, Lin Zhao, Le Su, Song Zhang, Chen Zhao, Kunlun Li
Abstract
Fucoidan is a fucose-rich sulfated polysaccharide that has gained attention owing to its various biological activities. In this study, fucoidan was isolated from Saccharina japonica using an enzyme-assisted method, and its antioxidant and anti-hepatocarcinoma effects were evaluated. The fucoidan was a 112.8 kDa polysaccharide comprising seven monosaccharides: fucose, xylose, glucuronic acid, rhamnose, glucose, mannose, and galactose. The main chain residues were (1 → 3)-α-L-Fucp and (1 → 4)-α-L-Fucp units with sulfate groups at the C-2/C-4 positions of the (1 → 3)-α-L-Fucp residues. S. japonica fucoidans showed excellent antioxidant potency with values of 1.02 mg TE/g and 5.39 mg TE/g for the ABTS and FRAP assays, respectively. Additionally, they exerted antitumor efficacy and low systemic toxicity in H22 tumor-bearing mice, with a tumor inhibition rate of 42.93%. Furthermore, it significantly inhibited tumor angiogenesis and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines levels (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α). Our results suggest that fucoidan isolated from S. japonica possesses potent antioxidant and anticancer properties and may be used as a potential agent for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.