206
9 Laminarins
to the maternal health of the sow. Laminarin has even been shown to improve the
development of porcine embryo (Jiang et al. 2018).
Other species have also shown improved growth rate in response to laminarin
administration. These include young chicks and piglets. For example in post-hatch
chicks, it is important that they have a moderate growth rate and attain sufficient
immunity to survive the early life stage as lots of the livestock could be lost during this
fragile stage. It is possible to achieve this required immunity through diet-containing
immune modulatory agents. Laminarin tested on such post-hatchery chicks have
shown that chicks could grow faster and develop intestine with more efficient nutrient uptake and immune response (Sweeney et al. 2017). However, the immunomodulatory effect of laminarin seems to be limited as it did not improve resistance to
Campylobacter jejuni, a major pathogen. Therefore, while laminarin might provide
some immunomodulatory effect, it does not provide complete immunity against
pathogens.
The immunomodulatory bioactivity of laminarin can be partly attributed to the
ability of laminarin like other algae polysaccharides to bind with certain proteins
called the lipopolysaccharide and beta-1,3-glucan-binding protein (LGBP). These
proteins are able to recognize specific polymer chain patterns of these algae polysaccharides such as laminarin. These patterns are referred to as the pathogen-associated
molecular patterns (PAMPs). It is deduced that the LGBPs bind with laminarins to
form complexes which then aid in the ability to attach to and destroy pathogens.
This protein binding ability of laminarin has been investigated in shrimp, resulting
in the activation of the prophenoloxidase system which boosts the shrimp’s innate
immunity (Chen et al. 2016). Most of the studies on laminarin’s immunomodulatory bioactivity are toward its use as a functional food for optimizing productivity in
farmed animals.
9.7.5 Plant Growth Agent
While the use of fertilizers and manure provides nutrients to support plant growth,
the growth of the plant also depends on the ability of the plant to effectively take up
and utilize the nutrients, water and sunlight. This is down to the intrinsic functioning
of the plant. This intrinsic growth factor can be enhanced by using compounds which
can interact with the plant’s cellular function and enhance its metabolic and hence
growth process as well as defense against pathogenes. Laminarin has been shown to
accelerate the process of seed germination through interfering with pathways which
lead to the formation of alpha-amylase (Yvin et al. 1993). Laminarin is thought
to do this by acting as an elicitor: a compound which induces particular responses
in an organism which enables its ability to survive its environment. This occurs by
difference means such as by triggering the production of certain enzymes or initiating
or inhibiting certain biochemical processes. Laminarin can be used in powdered or
liquid form either mixed with additives or dispersed in water and applied to the
9 Laminarins
to the maternal health of the sow. Laminarin has even been shown to improve the
development of porcine embryo (Jiang et al. 2018).
Other species have also shown improved growth rate in response to laminarin
administration. These include young chicks and piglets. For example in post-hatch
chicks, it is important that they have a moderate growth rate and attain sufficient
immunity to survive the early life stage as lots of the livestock could be lost during this
fragile stage. It is possible to achieve this required immunity through diet-containing
immune modulatory agents. Laminarin tested on such post-hatchery chicks have
shown that chicks could grow faster and develop intestine with more efficient nutrient uptake and immune response (Sweeney et al. 2017). However, the immunomodulatory effect of laminarin seems to be limited as it did not improve resistance to
Campylobacter jejuni, a major pathogen. Therefore, while laminarin might provide
some immunomodulatory effect, it does not provide complete immunity against
pathogens.
The immunomodulatory bioactivity of laminarin can be partly attributed to the
ability of laminarin like other algae polysaccharides to bind with certain proteins
called the lipopolysaccharide and beta-1,3-glucan-binding protein (LGBP). These
proteins are able to recognize specific polymer chain patterns of these algae polysaccharides such as laminarin. These patterns are referred to as the pathogen-associated
molecular patterns (PAMPs). It is deduced that the LGBPs bind with laminarins to
form complexes which then aid in the ability to attach to and destroy pathogens.
This protein binding ability of laminarin has been investigated in shrimp, resulting
in the activation of the prophenoloxidase system which boosts the shrimp’s innate
immunity (Chen et al. 2016). Most of the studies on laminarin’s immunomodulatory bioactivity are toward its use as a functional food for optimizing productivity in
farmed animals.
9.7.5 Plant Growth Agent
While the use of fertilizers and manure provides nutrients to support plant growth,
the growth of the plant also depends on the ability of the plant to effectively take up
and utilize the nutrients, water and sunlight. This is down to the intrinsic functioning
of the plant. This intrinsic growth factor can be enhanced by using compounds which
can interact with the plant’s cellular function and enhance its metabolic and hence
growth process as well as defense against pathogenes. Laminarin has been shown to
accelerate the process of seed germination through interfering with pathways which
lead to the formation of alpha-amylase (Yvin et al. 1993). Laminarin is thought
to do this by acting as an elicitor: a compound which induces particular responses
in an organism which enables its ability to survive its environment. This occurs by
difference means such as by triggering the production of certain enzymes or initiating
or inhibiting certain biochemical processes. Laminarin can be used in powdered or
liquid form either mixed with additives or dispersed in water and applied to the