title: Fucoidan partly prevents CCl4-induced liver fibrosis.
abstract: Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from brown algae, has a wide range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-tumor activities. In the present study, we investigated the effects of fucoidan on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Administration of fucoidan reduced CCl4-induced acute and chronic liver failure. Hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl4 was also attenuated by injection of fucoidan. Damage to hepatocytes and activation of hepatic stellate cells are key events in liver fibrosis, and, interestingly, treatment of hepatocytes with fucoidan prevented CCl4-induced cell death and inhibited the proliferation hepatic stellate cells. These results indicate that fucoidan might be a promising anti-fibrotic agent possessing dual functions, namely, protection of hepatocytes and inhibition of hepatic stellate cell proliferation.
authors: Laboratory of Bio-Functional Molecular Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors: Shinji
authors: S
authors: Hayashi
authors: Ayano
authors: A
authors: Itoh
authors: Katsuhiro
authors: K
authors: Isoda
authors: Masuo
authors: M
authors: Kondoh
authors: Masaya
authors: M
authors: Kawase
authors: Kiyohito
authors: K
authors: Yagi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D000459:Phaeophyceae / Q000737:chemistry; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; C007789:fucoidan; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase