110
5 Fucoidan
fractions can show compatibility with other materials, thus widening the range of
possible biocomposite drug delivery biomaterials attainable from fucoidans.
5.7.4 Immune Modulation
Ingestion of fruits and vegetables has been known to boost the immune system,
thereby preventing the onset of diseases (Gibson et al. 2012). One of the problems
with complaints to this is the large portions required and in some cases food shortage.
In, for example, regions suffering from draft or where human conflicts have disrupted
farming and food production activities, it is important to provide the necessary quality
of nutrient intake to maintain a healthy immune system. Fucoidan provides immune
modulation when used in a much lower quantity than a larger amount of fruits and
vegetables required for the same level of immune modulation (Negishi et al. 2013).
An example of such, fucoidan extracted from Undaria pinnatifida induced
improved antibody response to vaccine in elderly human subjects who were above
retirement age. Such findings are very important as it could reduce the quantity of
vaccine required to achieve the same immune response. This would reduce the cost
of vaccines and the amount of energy and manpower required to produce them.
The immune modulation activity of fucoidan at a lower gram requirement compared to dietary consumption of fruits and vegetables is also important in providing
treatment and care for individuals who are not capable of ingesting large amounts
of food. Fucoidan intake as low as 1 g per day has been shown to have sufficient
immune modulation activity.
A series of in vivo and in vitro studies show that fucoidans from different species
such as Fucus vesiculosus and Ascophyllum nodosum promote both growth and
activities of the dendritic cells of the body responsible for coordination of immune
response (Jin et al. 2014; Zhang et al. 2014a, b). These include recognition of
pathogens, antigen presentation and initiation of immune response.
It is understood that one of the ways fucoidan acts in immune modulation is
through binding to specific receptors and such interactions resulting in activation or
mediations of specific immune responses in a manner that is not toxic to the cells.
Such interactions result in production of pathogen-destroying biochemicals such
as cytokines and chemokines. Such immune bioactivity has been demonstrated by
fucoidans extracted from species such as Laminaria japonica, Laminaria cichorioideae and Fucus evanescens (Makarenkova et al. 2012). Immune modulation is
one of the current commercial claims of fucoidan-based food supplements. However
fucoidan is not commercially useed as a therapeutic as there is a need for more studies
in this area to confirm clinical applicability.
5 Fucoidan
fractions can show compatibility with other materials, thus widening the range of
possible biocomposite drug delivery biomaterials attainable from fucoidans.
5.7.4 Immune Modulation
Ingestion of fruits and vegetables has been known to boost the immune system,
thereby preventing the onset of diseases (Gibson et al. 2012). One of the problems
with complaints to this is the large portions required and in some cases food shortage.
In, for example, regions suffering from draft or where human conflicts have disrupted
farming and food production activities, it is important to provide the necessary quality
of nutrient intake to maintain a healthy immune system. Fucoidan provides immune
modulation when used in a much lower quantity than a larger amount of fruits and
vegetables required for the same level of immune modulation (Negishi et al. 2013).
An example of such, fucoidan extracted from Undaria pinnatifida induced
improved antibody response to vaccine in elderly human subjects who were above
retirement age. Such findings are very important as it could reduce the quantity of
vaccine required to achieve the same immune response. This would reduce the cost
of vaccines and the amount of energy and manpower required to produce them.
The immune modulation activity of fucoidan at a lower gram requirement compared to dietary consumption of fruits and vegetables is also important in providing
treatment and care for individuals who are not capable of ingesting large amounts
of food. Fucoidan intake as low as 1 g per day has been shown to have sufficient
immune modulation activity.
A series of in vivo and in vitro studies show that fucoidans from different species
such as Fucus vesiculosus and Ascophyllum nodosum promote both growth and
activities of the dendritic cells of the body responsible for coordination of immune
response (Jin et al. 2014; Zhang et al. 2014a, b). These include recognition of
pathogens, antigen presentation and initiation of immune response.
It is understood that one of the ways fucoidan acts in immune modulation is
through binding to specific receptors and such interactions resulting in activation or
mediations of specific immune responses in a manner that is not toxic to the cells.
Such interactions result in production of pathogen-destroying biochemicals such
as cytokines and chemokines. Such immune bioactivity has been demonstrated by
fucoidans extracted from species such as Laminaria japonica, Laminaria cichorioideae and Fucus evanescens (Makarenkova et al. 2012). Immune modulation is
one of the current commercial claims of fucoidan-based food supplements. However
fucoidan is not commercially useed as a therapeutic as there is a need for more studies
in this area to confirm clinical applicability.