Context: Fucoidans are water-soluble, highly sulfated, branched homo- and hetero-polysaccharides derived from the fibrillar cell walls and intercellular spaces of brown seaweeds of the class Phaeophyceae. Fucoidans possess mimetic properties of the natural ligands of protein receptors and regulate functions of biological systems via key signaling molecules.
Objectives: The aim of this review was to collect and combine all available scientific literature about the potential use of the fucoidans for diseases of cardiovascular system.
Materials and methods: The review has been compiled using references from major databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Elsevier, Springer and Google Scholar (up to September 2015). After obtaining all reports from database (a total number is about 580), the papers were carefully analyzed in order to find data related to the topic of this review (129 references).
Results: An exhaustive survey of literature revealed that fucoidans possess a broad spectrum of biological activity, including anti-coagulant, hypolipidemic, anti-thrombotic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-tumor, anti-adhesive and anti-hypertensive properties. Numerous investigations of fucoidans in diseases of the cardiovascular system mainly focus on pleiotropic anti-inflammatory effects. Fucoidans also possess pro-angiogenic and pro-vasculogenic properties.
Conclusion: A great number of investigations in the past years have demonstrated that fucoidans has great potential for in-depth investigation of their effects on cardiovascular system. Through this review, the authors hope to attract the attention of researchers to use fucoidan as mimetic of natural ligand receptor protein with the view of developing new formulations with an improved therapeutic value.
Keywords: Angiogenesis; atherosclerosis; cardiovascular diseases; fucoidan; inflammation; vasculogenesis.