Review Towards a better understanding of medicinal uses of the brown seaweed Sargassum in Traditional Chinese Medicine: A phytochemical and pharmacological review Lei Liu a,n , Michael Heinrich a,b , Stephen Myers a , Symon A. Dworjanyn c a Southern Cross Plant Science, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia b Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, University of London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK c National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia article info Article history: Received 29 February 2012 Received in revised form 18 April 2012 Accepted 25 May 2012 Available online 6 June 2012 Keywords: Sargassum Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Thyroid Meroterpenoids Phlorotanin Fucoidan Immunomodulator Hashimoto’s thyroiditis abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance: For nearly 2000 years Sargassum spp., a brown seaweed, has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat a variety of diseases including thyroid disease (e.g. goitre). Aims of the review: To assess the scientific evidence for therapeutic claims made for Sargassum spp. in TCM and to identify future research needs. Background and methods: A systematic search for the use of Sargassum in classical TCM books was conducted and linked to a search for modern phytochemical and pharmacological data on Sargassum spp. retrieved from PubMed, Web of Knowledge, SciFinder Scholar and CNKI (in Chinese). Results and discussion: The therapeutic effects of Sargassum spp. are scientifically plausible and may be explained partially by key in vivo and in vitro pharmacological activities of Sargassum, such as anticancer, anti- inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral activities. Although the mechanism of actions is still not clear, the pharmacological activities could be mainly attributed to the major biologically active metabolites, mer- oterpenoids, phlorotanins and fucoidans. The contribution of iodine in Sargassum for treating thyroid related diseases seem to have been over estimated. Conclusions: The bioactive compounds in Sargassum spp. appear to play a role as immunomodulators and could be useful in the treatment of thyroid related diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Further research is required to determine both the preventative and therapeutic role of Sargassum spp. in thyroid health. & 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Contents 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 592 2. Botany and taxonomy .............................................................................................. 592 3. Traditional uses ................................................................................................... 594 4. Phytochemistry and pharmacological activity ........................................................................... 594 4.1. Meroterpenoids ............................................................................................. 595 4.2. Phlorotanins ................................................................................................ 595 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jep Journal of Ethnopharmacology 0378-8741/$ - see front matter & 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2012.05.046 Abbreviations: AAPT, activated partial thromboplastin time; ABTS, 2,2 0 -azinobis-3-ethylbenzo thizoline-6-sulphonate; BT, bleeding time; BuOH, butanol; CCl 4 , carbon tetrachloride; COX, cyclooxygenase; CPR, C-reactive protein; CT, coagulation time; DCM, dichloromethane; DIT, diiodotyrosine; DPPH, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; EtOAc, ethyl acetate; ET, endothelin; HCMV, human cytomegalovirus; GC, gas chromatography; GOT, glutamic oxaloacetic transminase; GPT, glutamic pyruvic transaminase; GSH, glutathione; HAV, Hepatitis A Virus; HCMV, human cytomegalovirus; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; HIV-1, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1; H 2 O 2 , hydrogen peroxide; HPLC, high performance liquid chromatography; HSV-1, Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1; HSV-2, Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2; HTLV-1, Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1; IgE, Immunoglobulin E; IL, interleukin; INF-b, interferon b; iNOS, inducible nitric oxide synthase; LDL, Low-density lipoprotein; LPO, lipid peroxidation; MeOH, methanol; MIT, monoiodotyrosine; M/G, mannuronic acid/guluronic acid; NF-kB, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells; NMR, nuclear magnetic resonance; NGF, nerve growth factor; NO, nitric oxide; PARP, poly ADP-ribose polymerase; PG, prostaglandin; PPAR, peroxisome proliferator- activated receptors; PT, prothrombin time; ROS, reactive oxygen species; Seq., Sequential (extraction); SOD, superoxide dismutase; T3, triiodothyronine; T4, thyroxine; TCM, traditional Chinese medicine; Tg, thyroglobulin; TgAb, thyroglobulin antibody; TNF-a, tumour necrosis factor-alpha; TPO, thyroperoxidase; TPOAb, thyroperoxidase antibody; TT, thrombin time; UVB, ultraviolet B; VLDL, very low-density lipoprotein n Corresponding author. Tel.: þ61 2 66223211; fax: þ61 2 66223459. E-mail addresses: ben.liu@scu.edu.au, lliu@scu.edu.au (L. Liu), m.heinrich@ucl.ac.uk (M. Heinrich), stephen.myers@scu.edu.au (S. Myers), sdworjanyn@nmsc.edu.au (S.A. Dworjanyn). Journal of Ethnopharmacology 142 (2012) 591–619