Immunostimulatory effect by aqueous extract of Hizikia fusiforme in RAW 264.7 macrophage and whole spleen cells

Hizikia fusiformis: Pharmacological and Nutritional Properties

The brown seaweed Hizikia fusiformis (syn. Sargassum fusiforme), commonly known as “Hijiki”, has been utilized in traditional cuisine and medicine in East Asian countries for several centuries. H. fusiformis has attracted much attention owing to its rich nutritional and pharmacological properties. However, there has been no comprehensive review of the nutritional and pharmacological properties of H. fusiformis. The aim of this systematic review was to provide detailed information from the published literature on the nutritional and pharmacological properties of H. fusiformis. A comprehensive online search of the literature was conducted by accessing databases, such as PubMed, SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, for published studies on the nutritional and pharmacological properties of H. fusiformis between 2010 and 2021. A total of 916 articles were screened from all the databases using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses method. Screening based on the setdown criteria resulted in 59 articles, which were used for this review. In this review, we found that there has been an increase in the number of publications on the pharmacological and nutritional properties of H. fusiformis over the last 10 years. In the last 10 years, studies have focused on the proximate, mineral, polysaccharide, and bioactive compound composition, and pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, anticancer, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, photoprotective, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, osteoprotective, and gastroprotective properties of H. fusiformis extracts. Overall, further studies and strategies are required to develop H. fusiformis as a promising resource for the nutrition and pharmacological industries.

Dietary Hizikia fusiforme enhance survival of white spot syndrome virus infected crayfish Procambarus clarkii

The sea vegetable Hizikia fusiforme is not only a good source of dietary fiber but also enhances immunity. In this study, we investigated the effects of H. fusiforme on innate immunity in invertebrates, using white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) challenge in the crayfish, Procambarus clarkii. Supplementation with H. fusiforme significantly reduced mortality caused by WSSV infection and also reduced copy numbers of the WSSV protein VP28. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that supplementation of feed with H. fusiforme increased the expression of immune-related genes, including NF-κB and crustin 1. Further analysis showed that supplementation with H. fusiforme also affected three immune parameters, total hemocyte count, and phenoloxidase and superoxide dismutase activity. H. fusiforme treatment significantly increased hemocyte apoptosis rates in both WSSV-infected and uninfected crayfish. H. fusiforme thus regulates the innate immunity of crayfish, and both delays and reduces mortality after WSSV challenge. Our study demonstrates the potential for the commercial use of H. fusiforme, either therapeutically or prophylactically, to regulate the innate immunity and protect crayfish against WSSV infection.

Immunostimulatory Effect of Enzyme-Modified Hizikia fusiformein a Mouse Model In Vitro and Ex Vivo

Hizikia fusiforme, a brown seaweed, has been utilized as a health food and in traditional medicine. In this study, we investigated whether enzyme-modified H. fusiforme extracts (EH) have immunological effects compared with normal H. fusiforme extracts (NH). The effects of NH and EH on immune responses were investigated by assessing nitric oxide (NO) production, phagocytosis, and cytokine secretion in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages and mice. Also, fucosterol was evaluated to find the active component of NH and EH by addressing cytotoxicity test and NO production. Both of NH and EH significantly increased cell viability and NO synthesis. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression was more induced by EH with LPS treatment. Phagocytic activity, as the primary function of macrophages, was markedly induced by EH treatment. Additionally, EH encouraged splenocyte proliferation and recovered the levels of cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in mice. Finally, fucosterol increased NO production with no cytotoxicity, which means that fucosterol is an active component of EH. In conclusion, EH has the potential to modulate immune function and could offer positive therapeutic effect for immune system diseases.

Immune-modulating activities of polysaccharides extracted from brown algae Hizikia fusiforme

The immuno-modulating activities of seaweed (Hizikia fusiforme) extracts on murine macrophage and splenocyte were studied in vitro. Polysaccharide (HFP) exhibited the potential macrophage stimulating effects than water extract (HFW) such as NO production and enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokines on the Raw 264.7 cells and splenocytes. From the mono-sugar composition, HFP-associated fucose based on HFP of H. fusiforme acts as immune modulator.

Characterization of laminaran and a highly sulfated polysaccharide from Sargassum fusiforme

The crude polysaccharide (HFS) from Sargassum fusiforme (Hizikia fusiforme) was extracted using 0.1M HCl and was fractionated by anion-exchange chromatography into three fractions: HFS-1, HFS-2, and HFS-3. Based on the chemical analysis, HFS-1 was composed of laminaran, HFS-2 was a mixture of alginate and sulfated heteropolysaccharides, and HFS-3 was primarily composed of sulfated galactofucan. The NMR spectra revealed that HFS-1 was composed of a soluble laminaran with chains that are terminated by β-d-glucose residues. In contrast, the spectra obtained for HFS-2 were still complex, even after most of the alginate was removed. In addition, HFS-3 might contain 3-linked fucan sulfated at C-2, 6-linked galactan sulfated at C-2 and branched at C-4 by 2-sulfated Fuc, and galactofucan with a backbone of either alternating Gal and Fuc sulfated at C-2 or alternating (Gal)n and (Fuc)n sulfated at C-2. Moreover, HFS-3 also contained small amounts of fucoglucuronomannan and xylan.

The neuroprotective activities of heteropolysaccharides extracted from Saccharina japonica

Crude fucoidan extracted from Saccharina japonica was separated by anion-exchange chromatography. Then, the neuroprotective activities of the crude fucoidan (J) and its fractions (J0.4, J0.5, J1 and J2) were tested. J, J0.4 and J0.5 were shown to have neuroprotective effects. To simplify the structural features of the compounds, crude fucoidan was degraded to obtain low molecular weight fucoidan (DJ). DJ was further fractionated into DJ0.5, DJ1 and DJ2, and the neuroprotective activities of these fractions were determined. This analysis revealed that DJ and DJ0.5 retained the neuroprotective activity. However, the DJ0.5 fraction remained very complex. Thus, DJ0.5 was further separated into six fractions (F0.1, F0.2, F0.3, F0.4, F0.5 and F1). Finally, it was concluded that the anion-exchange fractions F0.1, F0.2 and F0.3 exhibited neuroprotective activities. These results suggest that heteropolysaccharides might contribute to the neuroprotective activity. Moreover, the neuroprotective heteropolysaccharide fractions contained relatively low fucose (less than 20%) and sulfate (25%), high UA content (more than 10%) and a high molar ratio of all other monosaccharides.