Structural characteristics and anticancer activity of fucoidan from the brown alga Sargassum mcclurei

Mar Drugs. 2013 May 6;11(5):1456-76. doi: 10.3390/md11051456.

Abstract

Three different fucoidan fractions were isolated and purified from the brown alga, Sargassum mcclurei. The SmF1 and SmF2 fucoidans are sulfated heteropolysaccharides that contain fucose, galactose, mannose, xylose and glucose. The SmF3 fucoidan is highly sulfated (35%) galactofucan, and the main chain of the polysaccharide contains a →3)-α-L-Fucp(2,4SO₃⁻)-(1→3)-α-L-Fucp(2,4SO₃⁻)-(1→ motif with 1,4-linked 3-sulfated α-L-Fucp inserts and 6-linked galactose on reducing end. Possible branching points include the 1,2,6- or 1,3,6-linked galactose and/or 1,3,4-linked fucose residues that could be glycosylated with terminal β-D-Galp residues or chains of alternating sulfated 1,3-linked α-L-Fucp and 1,4-linked β-D-Galp residues, which have been identified in galactofucans for the first time. Both α-L-Fucp and β-D-Galp residues are sulfated at C-2 and/or C-4 (and some C-6 of β-D-Galp) and potentially the C-3 of terminal β-D-Galp, 1,4-linked β-D-Galp and 1,4-linked α-L-Fucp residues. All fucoidans fractions were less cytotoxic and displayed colony formation inhibition in colon cancer DLD-1 cells. Therefore, these fucoidan fractions are potential antitumor agents.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / isolation & purification
  • Polysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Sargassum / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Polysaccharides
  • fucoidan