(7) Anticancer Properties of Chitosan Oligosaccharides
Victory over cancer remains a distant dream for modern medicine. Many anticancer
agents have been developed, but problems with their side effects have resulted in
demand for more effective treatments. While the spread of cancer may be checked
with early discovery and removal of the area where it has developed, failure to do
so necessitates the use of anticancer agents to prolong life. The anticancer agents
developed to date are mostly chemical substances with serious side effects. The
reason for these side effects stems from the fact that they do not selectively damage
only cancer cells, but destroy normal cells as well. For this reason,
immunotherapy-based treatments are preferable to chemical-based ones whenever
possible (Huang et al. 2006).
Immunity is a system in which white blood cells, macrophages, T-cells, and
B-cells consume and eliminate foreign materials (antigens) when they enter the
body. White blood cells are present in the body and functioning to detect and
consume relatively small quantities of bacteria and other foreign materials. The
name macrophage (meaning “big eaters”) comes from the fact that these cells
consume rather larger foreign materials than white blood cells. The fragments
produced after macrophage consumption are expelled outside of the macrophage’s
body, at which point T-cells respond by making a determination on whether the
material is foreign. When necessary, they order B-cells to attack; once a B-cell
receives this order, is produces large quantities of antibodies designed to react
specifically to and remove that material.
Chiton, chitosan, and their oligosaccharides are known to boost these immune
capabilities and suppress cancer or prevent its spread. Their anticancer effects are
reported to be the result of increased macrophage activity or strengthening of
T-cells so that B-cells produce more antibodies.
Testing with mice to examine the anticancer effects of chitin and chitosan has all
been done through abdominal or subcutaneous injection rather than oral administration. Currently, the only way to consume chitin or chitosan is by eating it, as it is
a health supplement rather than a medical product. Because chitin and chitosan are
insoluble polymers, their effects will be clearly manifested only when they are
consumed in soluble chitin and chitosan oligosaccharide form.
Ascites tumor and cervical cancer suppression effects were examined in mice
administered samples of chitosan oligosaccharides of differing molecular weights
for a one-month period. As shown in Table 8.8, the highest cancer suppression rate
was seen in mice administered samples of chitosan oligosaccharides with molecular
weights of 5–10 kDa. Cancer suppression rates were very low for both lower and
higher molecular weights, indicating that oligosaccharide size is very important in
anticancer effects (Kim 2019).
(8) Controlling High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure occurs as a result of both genetic factors and excessive salt
consumption. One of the many factors discovered to cause high blood pressure is
284
8 Developing Functional Materials with Marine Organisms
Victory over cancer remains a distant dream for modern medicine. Many anticancer
agents have been developed, but problems with their side effects have resulted in
demand for more effective treatments. While the spread of cancer may be checked
with early discovery and removal of the area where it has developed, failure to do
so necessitates the use of anticancer agents to prolong life. The anticancer agents
developed to date are mostly chemical substances with serious side effects. The
reason for these side effects stems from the fact that they do not selectively damage
only cancer cells, but destroy normal cells as well. For this reason,
immunotherapy-based treatments are preferable to chemical-based ones whenever
possible (Huang et al. 2006).
Immunity is a system in which white blood cells, macrophages, T-cells, and
B-cells consume and eliminate foreign materials (antigens) when they enter the
body. White blood cells are present in the body and functioning to detect and
consume relatively small quantities of bacteria and other foreign materials. The
name macrophage (meaning “big eaters”) comes from the fact that these cells
consume rather larger foreign materials than white blood cells. The fragments
produced after macrophage consumption are expelled outside of the macrophage’s
body, at which point T-cells respond by making a determination on whether the
material is foreign. When necessary, they order B-cells to attack; once a B-cell
receives this order, is produces large quantities of antibodies designed to react
specifically to and remove that material.
Chiton, chitosan, and their oligosaccharides are known to boost these immune
capabilities and suppress cancer or prevent its spread. Their anticancer effects are
reported to be the result of increased macrophage activity or strengthening of
T-cells so that B-cells produce more antibodies.
Testing with mice to examine the anticancer effects of chitin and chitosan has all
been done through abdominal or subcutaneous injection rather than oral administration. Currently, the only way to consume chitin or chitosan is by eating it, as it is
a health supplement rather than a medical product. Because chitin and chitosan are
insoluble polymers, their effects will be clearly manifested only when they are
consumed in soluble chitin and chitosan oligosaccharide form.
Ascites tumor and cervical cancer suppression effects were examined in mice
administered samples of chitosan oligosaccharides of differing molecular weights
for a one-month period. As shown in Table 8.8, the highest cancer suppression rate
was seen in mice administered samples of chitosan oligosaccharides with molecular
weights of 5–10 kDa. Cancer suppression rates were very low for both lower and
higher molecular weights, indicating that oligosaccharide size is very important in
anticancer effects (Kim 2019).
(8) Controlling High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure occurs as a result of both genetic factors and excessive salt
consumption. One of the many factors discovered to cause high blood pressure is
284
8 Developing Functional Materials with Marine Organisms