Fucoidan from Fucus vesiculosus protects against alcohol-induced liver damage by modulating inflammatory mediators in mice and HepG2 cells

• Published in: Marine drugs 2015-02, Vol.13 (2), p.1051-1067
• Main Authors: Lim, Jung Dae, Lee, Sung Ryul, Kim, Taeseong, Jang, Seon-A, Kang, Se Chan, Koo, Hyun Jung, Sohn, Eunsoo, Bak, Jong Phil, Namkoong, Seung, Kim, Hyoung Kyu, Song, In Sung, Kim, Nari, Sohn, Eun-Hwa, Han, Jin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alanine Transaminase - blood; alcohol; Animals; Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood; Cell Line; Cyclooxygenase 2 - metabolism; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors - pharmacology; cyclooxygenase-2; fucoidan; Fucus - chemistry; Fucus vesiculosus; Heme Oxygenase-1 - biosynthesis; Hep G2 Cells; Hepatitis, Alcoholic - metabolism; Hepatitis, Alcoholic - prevention & control; Humans; Inflammation Mediators - metabolism; liver; Male; Marine; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Nitric Oxide - antagonists & inhibitors; Nitric Oxide - biosynthesis; Organ Size - drug effects; Polysaccharides - isolation & purification; Polysaccharides - pharmacology; transforming growth factor beta 1; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 - metabolism
• ISSN: 1660-3397; 1660-3397
• DOI: 10.3390/md13021051

Fucoidan is an l-fucose-enriched sulfated polysaccharide isolated from brown algae and marine invertebrates. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of fucoidan from Fucus vesiculosus on alcohol-induced murine liver damage. Liver injury was induced by oral administration of 25% alcohol with or without fucoidan (30 mg/kg or 60 mg/kg) for seven days. Alcohol administration increased serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels, but these increases were suppressed by the treatment of fucoidan. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), a liver fibrosis-inducing factor, was highly expressed in the alcohol-fed group and human hepatoma HepG2 cell; however, the increase in TGF-β1 expression was reduced following fucoidan administration. Treatment with fucoidan was also found to significantly reduce the production of inflammation-promoting cyclooygenase-2 and nitric oxide, while markedly increasing the expression of the hepatoprotective enzyme, hemeoxygenase-1, on murine liver and HepG2 cells. Taken together, the antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects of fucoidan on alcohol-induced liver damage may provide valuable insights into developing new therapeutics or interventions.