title: Toxicological evaluation of fucoidan extracted from Laminaria japonica in Wistar rats.
abstract: Fucoidans, the sulfated polysacchrides extracted from brown algae, have been extensively studied for their diverse biological activities. However, there is no detailed report investigating the toxicity of fucoidan. In this study, the acute and subchronic (6 months) toxicity of varying levels of fucoidan extracted from Laminaria japonica was investigated in Wistar rats after oral administration. The results showed that no significant toxicological changes were observed when 300 mg/kg body weight per day fucoidan was administered to rats. But when the dose was increased to 900 and 2500 mg/kg body weight per day, the clotting time was significantly prolonged. Besides this, no other signs of toxicity were observed. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the no adverse effect level of fucoidan from L. japonica is 300 mg/kg body weight per day.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; The Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Quanbin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jinming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D007795:Laminaria / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D019055:No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D036401:Toxicity Tests, Chronic
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D011134:Polysaccharides; C007789:fucoidan