Observed activities

1. Anti-Tumor, Anti-Cancer activity
• Anti-tumor effect
• Anti-tumor activity
• Effects on ATL (Adult T-cell Leukemia)


2. Reinforcement of Immunity
• Promotion of NK (Natural Killer) -cell activity
• Promotion of Human NK-cell activity
• Activation of Immune System


3. Apoptosis
• Induction of Apoptosis


4. Suppression of Angiogenesis
5. Inhibition of Blood Coagulation
6. Cholesterol Reduction
• Weight Control, Reduction of Serum Cholesterol, Reduction of Serum Triglyceride


7. Prevention of Rise in Blood Pressure
8. Prevention of Rise in Blood-Sugar Level
• Suppression of Blood-Sugar Level


9. Anti Helicobacter Pilori activity, Anti Ulcer activity
10. Relieving effect on Allergic activities (Hey Fever, Atopy, etc.)
• Anti-allergic activity


11. Anti-Viral, Anti-Bacterial Activity
12. Anti-Oxidation
13. Hair-Growth Effect
14. Skin Moisturizing
15. Weight Control
16. Weight Control, Reduction of Serum Cholesterol, Reduction of Serum Triglyceride
17. Improvement in Intestinal Environment
18. Enhancement of Hepatic Functions
19. Anti-HIV
20. Others

Anti-Tumor Effect
Sarcoma 180 (mouse ascites tumor cells) was subcutaneously applied to two groups of mice, which had been bred, respectively, on “control feed” and “fucoidan-mix feed” for 20 days. NK-cell activity on YAC-1 was observed, by comparing diapedeses of LDH.

Weight of tumor cells were significantly reduced in the fucoidan fed mice.

(Reported at, West Japan, Chugoku, and Shikoku Chapter of 2003 Japan Society of Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry; West Japan Chapter of the Japanese Society of Nutrition and Food Science; Joint Chapter of West Japan and Kagoshima of the Japanese Society for Food Science and Technology)

A similar experiment was conducted with five groups of mice, which had been respectively bred, for 23 days, on “control feed”, “Mozuku (Nemacystus Decipiens) fucoidan mixed feed”, “Mekabu (Foot Stem of kelp (Laminaria Japonica)) fucoidan mixed feed”, “Agaricus mycelium extract mixed feed”, and “fucoidan-mix feed”. Weights of Sarcoma cells in each group were compared, and except for the control group, significant reductions were observed in all the groups.

Anti-Tumor Activitity
InVitro Anti-tumor activity Test

The anti-tumor activity of fucoidan, derived from Mozuku (Nemacystus Decipiens), was evaluated by determining survival rates of living cells. The fucoidan was added to normal PBL (Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte) cells and Molt-4 cells (a subcultured human tumor cell of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia), and their survival rates were compared. Concentration dependent decrease in survival rate was observed with the Molt-4 cells. However, the rate of PBL cells was not influenced by the presence of fucoidan. Thus, fucoidan appears to have an effect specifically on tumor cells.

In Vivo Anti-tumor activity Test
In order to evaluate the anti-tumor activity of fucoidan, sarcoma 180 (a subculture of mouse sarcoma cells) was subcutaneously applied to two groups of nude mice. One group was then orally administered with fucoidan (100mg/kg/day, 1 dose/day), and a placebo feed was fed to the other group as control. Significant difference in growth of sarcoma cells was observed after 14th day (p 0.005) and 21st day (p 0.0005) of the experiment. The growth of the sarcoma cells was suppressed in the mice, to which fucoidan had been administered. From such observation, it was concluded that fucoidan may have a growth suppression effect on tumor cells.

Effects on ATL (Adult T-cell Leukemia)
Fucoidan has already been known to inhibit infection of HLTV-1 (Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus type 1). Now, much interest has been turned on to effects of fucoidan on multiplication of HTLV-1-infected T-cells.

WST-8 assay has been employed to investigate survival rates of HTLV-1-infected T-cell, ATL cell, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of HTLV-1 carrier and healthy adult. Also, an analysis on expression of 7A6 antigen was carried out through flow cytometry, in order to investigate apoptosis in those cells. Results showed that, despite of the presence of fucoidan, no alteration of survival rate was observed in the cells of healthy specimen. However, the rates in the other three specimens decreased, and decrease showed concentration dependence.

Moreover, HTLV-1 infected T-cell strain was engrafted onto two groups of SCID mice, to which sterilized/purified water and fucoidan were orally administered, respectively, and the volume of tumor cells were determined. The fucoidan treated SCID mice showed a significant difference, and thus anti-tumor activity of fucoidan was confirmed.

(Reported at September 2003, 62nd Annual Meeting of Japanese Cancer Association, by Okinawa Fermentation Technology Co., Ltd)

Promotion of NK (Natural Killer)-Cell Activity
The NK cell activity of fucoidan was studied through comparing growth of sarcoma 180 (mouse ascites tumor cells) in BALB/C mice. Two groups of mice were bred on an ordinary feed and fucoidan-mix feed, respectively, and both group was subcutaneously administered with sarcoma 180. A significant increase in NK cell activity was observed in fucoidan fed mice

Promotion of Human NK-Cell Activity
Activation of human NK cell was studied on 6 healthy adults (3 male, 3 female). The volunteers drank a fucoidan drink (approx. 2 g/day), and their blood samples were drawn 1, 2, 4, 6, and 24 hours after drinking for comparison of the NK cell activity before and after the uptake of fucoidan. In spite of complications due to individual differences in metabolism, the NK cell activity appeared to decrease in the first hour, and then to increase (in some volunteers, the activity became higher than that before drinking).

Activation of Immune System

Fucoidan alone

Activation of immune system by fucoidan was investigated through determining macrophage activity using glucose consumption as an index.

Macrophage is a phagocytic cell, which has many important immunological functions such as digestion of foreign bodies in the system, meditation and control of immune reactions (e.g. antigen presentation), release of cytokines and oxygen radicals, and inhibition and elimination of tumor cells. Activation of macrophage releases oxygen radicals, and glucose metabolizing system is known to be involved in it. Thus, glucose consumption can be treated as a reasonable index for activation of immune system.

From the result (shown below), an increase in glucose consumption by macrophage was obtained, and therefore, activation of immune system by fucoidan was confirmed.

Fucoidan with Agaricus

As described above, fucoidan alone provides a higher immune system activity, but a further investigation has revealed that, at “right” proportions, a mixture of fucoidan and agaricus mycelium gives higher glucose consumption than when they are taken in individually. Therefore, the mixture of fucoidan and agaricus has a better ability to activate immune system.

Induction of Apoptosis

“Apoptosis” is a genetically programmed mechanism of cell death. When certain stimulation is applied to a cell, its gene triggers the self destruction device and the cell dies. For example, during the metamorphosis of tadpole into frog, the tail of tadpole disappears due to apoptosis of cells in the tail, or human fetus loses its webs before birth because of apoptosis of the cells of the web

A study on influences of mozuku (Nemacystus Decipiens) derived Fucoidan, kelp (Laminaria Japonica) derived Fucoidan, and Agarics extract on apoptosis of HL60 (promyelocytic leukemia cell strain) and NOS4 (cultured human ovarian tumor cell strain) had been carried out. Apoptosis induction was determined. Results revealed that the fucoidans exhibited an ability to induce apoptosis, whereas the fungus extract had no effect on apoptosis despite of its ability to activate immune system. Moreover, mozuku derived fucoidan showed significantly higher induction than that derived from kelp.

Weight Control, Reduction of Serum Cholesterol, Reduction of Serum Triglyceride

In order to investigate influences of fucoidan on fats, two groups of Wister/ST mice were bred on an ordinary feed and a fucoidan-mix feed, respectively for 1 month. Their body weights, fat tissue contents, serum cholesterol contents, and serum triglyceride contents were compared.

Suppression of Blood-Sugar Level

Influences of fucoidan on blood-sugar level were investigated by use of enzyme electrode method. Two groups of KK-Ay mice (model mice for high blood-sugar/diabetes) were bred, for two months, on an ordinary feed and a fucoidan-mix feed, respectively. Their blood-sugar levels were determined every 10 days. Blood-sugar level was substantially suppressed in the fucoidan-mix fed mice.

Test Specimen: KK-Ay Mice (Model Mice for High Blood-Sugar Level/Diabetes)

• Type II, Insulin Independent, (Model Mice for Naturally Occurring Diabetes)
• Obesity gene has been introduced so as to develop high blood-sugar level quickly

Breeding Period: 8 Weeks
Measurement Item: Blood-Sugar Level

Anti-allergic activity

Anti-allergic activity of Okinawa Mozuku (Cladosiphon Okamuranus) was examined using a model mouse for atopic dermatitis.

The skin condition of mice, which had been orally administered with Okinawa mozuku, showed improvement as compared with the control group. Moreover, with repeated administration, more effective improvement was produced.

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