Fucoidan Structure and Its Impact on Glucose Metabolism: Implications for Diabetes and Cancer Therapy

• Published in: Marine drugs Vol. 19; no. 1; p. 30
• Main Authors: Mabate, Blessing, Daub, Chantal Désirée, Malgas, Samkelo, Edkins, Adrienne Lesley, Pletschke, Brett Ivan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 11.01.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Algae; Animals; anticancer; Anticancer properties; Anticoagulants; antidiabetic; Antidiabetics; Antineoplastic Agents - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Binding sites; Bioavailability; Biocompatibility; Biological activity; Biologically grown products; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Carbohydrates; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus - metabolism; Drug development; Enzymes; Fucoidan; Fucose; Glucose; Glucose - antagonists & inhibitors; Glucose - metabolism; Homeostasis; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents - chemistry; Hypoglycemic Agents - pharmacology; Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use; Metabolism; Molecular weight; Monosaccharides; natural bioproducts; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - metabolism; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Pathophysiology; Polysaccharides; Polysaccharides - chemistry; Polysaccharides - pharmacology; Polysaccharides - therapeutic use; Review; Saccharides; Seaweeds; Spectrum analysis; Therapeutic targets; Toxicity; natural bioproducts; antidiabetic; fucoidan; glucose metabolism; anticancer
• ISSN: 1660-3397; 1660-3397
• DOI: 10.3390/md19010030

Fucoidans are complex polysaccharides derived from brown seaweeds which consist of considerable proportions of L-fucose and other monosaccharides, and sulphated ester residues. The search for novel and natural bioproduct drugs (due to toxicity issues associated with chemotherapeutics) has led to the extensive study of fucoidan due to reports of it having several bioactive characteristics. Among other fucoidan bioactivities, antidiabetic and anticancer properties have received the most research attention in the past decade. However, the elucidation of the fucoidan structure and its biological activity is still vague. In addition, research has suggested that there is a link between diabetes and cancer; however, limited data exist where dual chemotherapeutic efforts are elucidated. This review provides an overview of glucose metabolism, which is the central process involved in the progression of both diseases. We also highlight potential therapeutic targets and show the relevance of fucoidan and its derivatives as a candidate for both cancer and diabetes therapy.