Therapeutic Uses of Fucoidan

Abstract

The aquatic ecosystem is renowned as a rich source of chemical and biological diversity. This form of diversity for cosmetics, nutritional supplementation, agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals has been considered a rare source of chemical compounds (Blunt et.al., 2007). Seaweeds, such as green algae, red algae and brown algae, can produce different metabolites distinguished by a wide variety of metabolites biological processes (Rajasulochana et al., 2009). Brown algae, such as Sargassum spp., has been used as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for around 2000 years to treat various diseases, including thyroid diseases such as goitre. In addition, it has also been used traditionally to treat scrofula, tumours, edoema, testicular pain, swelling, cardiovascular diseases, arteriosclerosis, ulcer, renal issues, eczema, scabies, psoriasis and asthma (Liu et.al., 2012). Their therapeutic effects have been clinically approved and can therefore be explained by pharmacological actions in vivo and in vitro, such as anti-cancer, antiinflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, neuroprotective and anti-HIV development. In International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 10 Number 01 (2021) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com