Fucoidan as bio-functional molecule: Insights into the anti-inflammatory potential and associated molecular mechanisms Abdul Rehman Phull, Song Ja Kim ⇑ Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kongju National University, 56 Gongju Daehak-Ro, Gongju-Si, Chungnam 32588, Republic of Korea article info Article history: Received 12 June 2017 Received in revised form 15 September 2017 Accepted 15 September 2017 Keywords: Fucoidan Seaweed Anti-inflammatory COX-2 Matrix metalloproteinases abstract Fucoidan is a bio-functional polysaccharide, mainly reported in brown seaweed. Diverse potential of fucoidan has created intense interest to review the existing scientific literature, specifically focusing on prevention, associated molecular mechanisms in inflammation related ailments. Fucoidan inhibited inflammatory responses, both in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Inflammation is a complex response of living systems and involved in pathogenesis of different diseases, including arthritis, cancer and allergies. Sulfated glycans play a crucial role in inflammation related events such as they partake in the regulation of chemokines, rolling of leukocytes along the endothelium at inflammatory sites, and pro- vide the structural assembly of subendothelial basement membrane. These functions make fucoidan as suitable exogenous sulfated polysaccharide to ameliorate the inflammatory events like regulating pro- inflammatory targets. Henceforth present study was carried out to provide the critical approach towards the anti-inflammatory properties and underlying molecular mechanisms on the basis of existing knowledge. Ó 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Contents 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 416 1.1. Fucoidan....................................................................................................... 416 1.2. Bio-functionalities ............................................................................................... 416 1.2.1. Anti-obesity activity ...................................................................................... 416 1.2.2. Antiviral potential........................................................................................ 416 1.2.3. Anticoagulant activity .................................................................................... 416 1.2.4. Anti-allergic activity ...................................................................................... 418 1.2.5. Anticancer activity ....................................................................................... 418 1.2.6. Other activities .......................................................................................... 418 2. Inflammation ........................................................................................................ 418 3. Fucoidan and inflammation ............................................................................................. 420 3.1. Fucoidan as antioxidant .......................................................................................... 420 3.2. Fucoidan and modulation of pro-inflammatory enzyme activities ........................................................ 421 3.3. Fucoidan and modulation of inflammation related gene expression ....................................................... 422 3.4. Fucoidan and transcription factors .................................................................................. 422 3.5. Fucoidan and adhesion molecules .................................................................................. 423 3.6. Fucoidan and matrix metalloproteinases ............................................................................. 423 4. Molecular mechanism similarities of fucoidan and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs .......................................... 423 5. Summary ........................................................................................................... 423 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2017.09.051 1756-4646/Ó 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Abbreviations: nuclear factor kappa B, NF-kB; tumor necrosis factor, TNF; cyclooxygenase-2, COX-2; interleukin, IL; reactive oxygen species, ROS; matrix metalloproteinase, MMP. ⇑ Corresponding author. E-mail address: ksj85@kongju.ac.kr (S.J. Kim). Journal of Functional Foods 38 (2017) 415–426 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Functional Foods journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jff