17.3.3 Anti-coagulant Activity
Literature survey suggest that marine organisms also exert anti-coagulant activity.
They show anti-coagulant effect either by inhibiting thrombin or by activating
anti-thrombin (III) or by increasing the clotting time both in the intrinsic and
extrinsic pathways (Mauro et al. 2012). In a recent study, marine-derived sulphated
glycans have emerged with a potent coagulant and thrombosis property. These
glycans are categorized into two class (i) GAGs such as fucosylated chondroitin
sulfates (isolated from sea cucumber) and (ii) GAG mimetics like sulphated
galactans and sulphated fucans. Moreover, sulphate content plays a key role in
anti-coagulant activity because the presence and amount of distribution of sulphate
decide the process of coagulation or platelet aggregation (Fan et al. 2011).
However, in some cases of fucoidan and fucans, the outcome of anti-coagulant
activity is related to some factors such as (i) the content of sulfate or disulfate or
fucose (ii) the higher molecular weight that usually induced a stronger anticoagulant
activity and (iii) the molecule presents a linear backbone. Laminaran is also an
example of a marine polysaccharide which after structural modification like sulfation, reduction, or oxidation exerts anticoagulant activity (Mauro et al. 2012).
Heparin is a sulfated polysaccharide that is mainly present in mammalian tissues,
one of the most common anti-coagulant drugs that has been used for the last
15 years as a commercial anti-coagulant in thromboembolic disorders. However, it
shows several side effects like thrombocytopenia and is not able to inhibit thrombin
bound to fibrin, and shows deficiencies and unwanted bleeding. More than 300
marine organisms have been documented as heparin alternatives and around 301
new anti-thrombotic and anti-coagulant derivatives have been documented as well.
These molecules vary from polysaccharides to protein structures and are originated
from a variety of marine sources (Sharon and Lis 2004).
In vivo studies suggest that S-galactofucan, isolated from Spatoglossum schroederi
(brown seaweed) exerts potent antithrombotic activity. Spirulan extracted
from Arthrospira platensis interferes with the blood coagulation-fibrinolytic system
and exhibited anti-thrombogenic properties. The degree of sulfation of chitosan is an
important point. Highly sulfated chitosans induce an increase of thrombin, activated
partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time (Desai 2004).
17.3.4 Anti-obesity
Obesity is a complex disease that includes the deposition of excessive fat in the
body’s tissue. It is considered as chronic metabolic disorders that occur due to an
imbalance between energy intake and energy outlay. Obesity is a matter of concern
because it can lead to many health-related problems such as B.P., cardiac related
disorders, sleep apnoea, type-2 diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol levels; etc.
Obesity also harms people on the social platform. Sometimes obese people may
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D. Pal and K. Raj
Literature survey suggest that marine organisms also exert anti-coagulant activity.
They show anti-coagulant effect either by inhibiting thrombin or by activating
anti-thrombin (III) or by increasing the clotting time both in the intrinsic and
extrinsic pathways (Mauro et al. 2012). In a recent study, marine-derived sulphated
glycans have emerged with a potent coagulant and thrombosis property. These
glycans are categorized into two class (i) GAGs such as fucosylated chondroitin
sulfates (isolated from sea cucumber) and (ii) GAG mimetics like sulphated
galactans and sulphated fucans. Moreover, sulphate content plays a key role in
anti-coagulant activity because the presence and amount of distribution of sulphate
decide the process of coagulation or platelet aggregation (Fan et al. 2011).
However, in some cases of fucoidan and fucans, the outcome of anti-coagulant
activity is related to some factors such as (i) the content of sulfate or disulfate or
fucose (ii) the higher molecular weight that usually induced a stronger anticoagulant
activity and (iii) the molecule presents a linear backbone. Laminaran is also an
example of a marine polysaccharide which after structural modification like sulfation, reduction, or oxidation exerts anticoagulant activity (Mauro et al. 2012).
Heparin is a sulfated polysaccharide that is mainly present in mammalian tissues,
one of the most common anti-coagulant drugs that has been used for the last
15 years as a commercial anti-coagulant in thromboembolic disorders. However, it
shows several side effects like thrombocytopenia and is not able to inhibit thrombin
bound to fibrin, and shows deficiencies and unwanted bleeding. More than 300
marine organisms have been documented as heparin alternatives and around 301
new anti-thrombotic and anti-coagulant derivatives have been documented as well.
These molecules vary from polysaccharides to protein structures and are originated
from a variety of marine sources (Sharon and Lis 2004).
In vivo studies suggest that S-galactofucan, isolated from Spatoglossum schroederi
(brown seaweed) exerts potent antithrombotic activity. Spirulan extracted
from Arthrospira platensis interferes with the blood coagulation-fibrinolytic system
and exhibited anti-thrombogenic properties. The degree of sulfation of chitosan is an
important point. Highly sulfated chitosans induce an increase of thrombin, activated
partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time (Desai 2004).
17.3.4 Anti-obesity
Obesity is a complex disease that includes the deposition of excessive fat in the
body’s tissue. It is considered as chronic metabolic disorders that occur due to an
imbalance between energy intake and energy outlay. Obesity is a matter of concern
because it can lead to many health-related problems such as B.P., cardiac related
disorders, sleep apnoea, type-2 diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol levels; etc.
Obesity also harms people on the social platform. Sometimes obese people may
604
D. Pal and K. Raj