Marinova Newsletter

Fucoidan - the new heparin

Recent research has further strengthened the case for fucoidan to become a viable commercial alternative to the anti-coagulant drug, heparin.

Heparin, first discovered as an effective blood-thinning agent in the 1930s, is typically derived from the mucosal tissues of pigs and cattle and is mostly delivered in fractionated forms. For some time, fucoidan has been known to have biological effects similar to heparin. However, as a stable plant-derived extract, fucoidan has advantages over heparin, particularly in relation to modulating the clotting cascade.

Recent research exploring the antithrombotic effects of fucoidan fractions has shown that a key advantage of fucoidan over heparin is its ability to prevent clotting without extending bleeding time. This discovery opens up a range of possible applications — for example, during surgical procedures, or in developing an orally active therapeutic to prevent deep vein thrombosis in travellers. In addition, a small but significant number of patients experience allergy to heparin, making the availability of a standard, non-allergenic replacement particularly attractive.

Heparin and its derivatives have a long history of widespread use and are unlikely to be displaced in the near future, despite scandals such as the tragic heparin adulteration incident that occurred in 2008. However, lucrative niche markets are emerging for heparin alternatives and particularly for orally deliverable, shelf-stable antithrombotic therapeutics derived from natural plant sources.

To find out more about fucoidan as a potential heparin substitute and Marinova’s ability to develop highly characterised fucoidan fractions to cGMP, please contact us. 

Reference: Min, S. K., O. C. Kwon, et al. (2011). "An antithrombotic fucoidan, unlike heparin, does not prolong bleeding time in a murine arterial thrombosis model: a comparative study of Undaria pinnatifida sporophylls and Fucus vesiculosus." Phytother Res 26(5): 752-757.

Fucoidan in the headlines

Fucoidan helps combat obesity

Newly published research from Korea has highlighted the pivotal role that fucoidan may play in the fight against obesity.

The studies undertaken at Sangmyung University showed that mice exposed to a high fat diet gained less weight when fucoidan was included in their diet. Fatty liver deposits – a major cause of silent disease in humans – were also decreased, as were all blood lipids. Fucoidan derived from Undaria seaweed was included in the animals’ diet at a rate of only 1% or 2% – the equivalent of a supplement-sized dose for a human.

This research places fucoidan as a clear candidate for weight control products, with the added benefit of potentially improving cardiovascular health.

Kim MJ, Jeon J, Lee JS. Fucoidan Prevents High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Animals by Suppression of Fat Accumulation. Phytother Res. 2013 Apr 12. Epub ahead of print.

Supercharging your resveratrol formulation

It is now widely accepted that some natural products can act synergistically to deliver enhanced activity. Fucoidan, in particular, has been known to boost the efficacy of other bioactive compounds, creating the potential for more effective disease treatments.

A recent study conducted by Russian researchers has revealed the strong synergistic effects of fucoidan on human colon cancer cells when combined with the grape-derived antioxidant resveratrol. The studies showed that while the fucoidan was not in itself toxic to the cell, it sensitised the cancer cells and enhanced the apoptotic effects of the resveratrol.

This well-designed study indicates the potential for combining fucoidan with other natural bioactives to create even more effective complementary medicines.

Vishchuk, OS, Ermakova SP, Zvyagintseva TN. The effect of sulfated (1-->3)-alpha-l-fucan from the brown alga Saccharina cichorioides Miyabe on resveratrol-induced apoptosis in colon carcinoma cells. Mar Drugs 2013; 11(1): 194-212.

Fucoidan in news again for anti-influenza activity

Leading researchers in Japan have succeeded in supporting their earlier research on fucoidan and its effectiveness in combatting influenza.

In their most recent study of mice with normal and compromised immunity, the researchers showed that fucoidan was effective in reducing viral replication, decreasing weight loss and mortality, and prolonging survival. Mice that received oral doses of fucoidan showed increased production of neutralising antibodies in the mucosa and blood. In immunocompromised mice, drug-resistant viruses often recover and take hold following anti-viral, oseltamivir treatment. However, in this study no resistant viruses could be detected in the mice that had received fucoidan doses.  

The study concluded that Undaria fucoidan could be a candidate for the development of new therapeutic options for influenza, including its combination with neuraminidase inhibitors such as oseltamivir. These results add further weight to earlier research conducted by Marinova which confirmed the ability of Maritech® fucoidan to inhibit a number of influenza strains including the influenza A strains H1N1 and H5N1 and influenza B.

Hayashi K, Lee JB, Nakano T, Hayashi T. Anti-influenza A virus characteristics of a fucoidan from sporophyll of Undaria pinnatifida in mice with normal and compromised immunity. Microbes Infect. 2013; 15(4): 302-309.

Maritech® Synergy - stopping superoxide in its tracks!

Superoxide is a biologically toxic compound deployed in the human body to kill invading microorganisms. It is believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of many diseases, and it is for this reason that superoxide is often referred to as ‘the mother’ of all free radicals. From skin ageing and acne to cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease and diabetes, superoxide-induced damage may be a major contributing factor.

Oxidation and oxidative stress can cause mitochondria – the cell’s powerhouses – to malfunction, leading to the over production of superoxide. This process is exacerbated by the fact that the enzymes that normally reduce superoxide activity, such as superoxide dismutase, are not produced in sufficient quantities to neutralise the damage. Oxidative stress is a major cause of endothelial (blood vessel lining cells) dysfunction in the cerebral circulation and has been linked to neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Overproduction of superoxide also contributes towards raised blood glucose levels in diabetes, causing dysfunction in a range of important biological processes, including the formation of glycated proteins and the activation of inflammation. All of these mechanisms stem from a single, high blood glucose-induced process: the overproduction of superoxide by mitochondria.

Substances known to be antioxidant – including Maritech® Synergy– can play a vital role in ‘mopping up’ oxidising molecules. This may assist in reducing both acute and chronic inflammatory conditions.

Using the recently developed ORAC 5 assay, Brunswick Laboratories (USA) identified the specific oxidizing molecules that are affected by Maritech® Synergy. The tests demonstrated that the five most common free radicals implicated in disease (peroxyl, hydroxyl, singlet oxygen, peroxynitrite and superoxide) were all shown to be inhibited by Maritech® Synergy’s exceptionally high antioxidant activity.

For more details on the potent antioxidant activity of Maritech® Synergy and these latest results from the ORAC 5 assay, please contact us.

Arsenic alert in Asian supplements

Swedish toxicologists recently discovered alarmingly high levels of arsenic in Chinese herbal extracts. Equally disturbing was the fact that there was little or no way to contact the manufacturers of the ingredients in question. Sobering reports such as these highlight the need to source nutritional ingredients from only reputable suppliers who enforce the most rigorous custody, control and quality assurance systems.

Many common foods, from apples and potatoes to fish and seaweeds, contain arsenic. In seaweed, organic arsenosugars are the prevalent form of arsenic – these organic compounds have no acute toxicity and are excreted as dimethylarsenate within only a few days of ingestion. Chemical analyses show that up to approximately 100 mg/kg of arsenic can be found in some commonly consumed seaweeds. Importantly, however, this arsenic content is largely comprised of the safe, organic form with typically less than 1% of the total arsenic content being of the toxic, inorganic form.

Alarmingly high levels of toxic, inorganic arsenic can, however, be found in seaweeds grown and harvested in waters prone to human and industrial contamination. In contrast, all of Marinova’s fucoidan extracts contain safe levels of arsenic, reflecting the fact that we are uncompromising in sourcing seaweeds from only the most pristine ocean waters. Furthermore, Marinova extracts its high purity fucoidan compounds using its unique, solvent-free organic certified Maritech® extraction process. The quality of our Maritech® fucoidan extracts is further assured by our comprehensive quality assurance systems and by the analysis of all products by ISO 17025 certified laboratories using validated and globally-recognised methods.

Given the increasing levels of contamination in many Asian seaweeds and ongoing concerns about the quality of many Chinese nutritional ingredients, can you afford not to source your fucoidan from Marinova?

Onward and upward - the continuing growth in organics

More than ever, consumers today are applying increasingly higher standards and ethical expectations to their food purchases.  Reflecting this trend is the powerful upsurge in demand for organic produce. While organic food accounts for less than 3% of global food production, the value of this sector is estimated to exceed US$80bn by 2018.

The profile of organic certification is continuing to grow, reaching beyond the traditional fresh fruit and vegetable sector. There is now rapidly increasing demand around the world for certified organic nutritional supplements and other functional ingredients, and the industry is already modelling 20%-25% growth in this niche sector over the next three years.

The market for certified organic cosmetics and personal care products is also growing at an astounding rate. In North America alone, the market for organic personal care products in 2012 was estimated to be $7bn, with growth anticipated to reach $13.2bn within the next six years.

Although the demand for organic products is primarily driven by concerns for personal health and the environment, other factors are at play. As the only manufacturer of high-purity, certified organic fucoidan, Marinova is observing that consumers are also placing a higher priority on products with a proven chain of custody, reflecting their aspirations for better health, hygiene and quality of life.

For assistance on how to tap into the lucrative and growing market for certified organic marine extracts, please feel free to contact Marinova’s Business Development Manager, Mr Kevin Krail.
 

Polyphenols: not all bitter and twisted

Despite the increasing interest in polyphenols by food, beverage and nutritional companies, many consumers still don’t understand what these compounds are and how they benefit human health.

Polyphenols are a diverse class of chemical compounds found in a wide variety of plants. In chemical terms, all polyphenols feature the common structural motif, phenol - being a hydroxyl group bound to an aromatic ring. These compounds range from relatively simple molecules to complex, interlinked arrangements that feature numerous phenolic subunits.

Polyphenols include tannins, flavonoids and lignans. Tannins are usually associated with drinks including tea, wine and some beers and fruit juices, and are often responsible for astringent or acidic flavours. Flavonoids are found in a range of plants - these are the substances that bring colour to flower petals - while lignans are found in sesame seeds, flax seed and broccoli.

All polyphenols are known for their antioxidant activity. In the context of human health, antioxidants are important for their capacity to help regulate the presence of harmful free radicals which, in excessive amounts, can cause irreversible damage to human DNA, lipids, proteins and other cellular components. The result? Disease and other potentially significant health problems.

As explained elsewhere in this newsletter, Maritech® Synergy is a rich source of polyphenols with potent superoxide inhibition. In recent testing at Brunswick Laboratories, Maritech® Synergy was also shown to have profound activity against peroxyl and hydroxyl radicals making it one of the most powerful natural antioxidants available today. Please contact Mr Kevin Krail for more information on how Maritech® Synergy can enhance your nutritional supplements, functional beverages and skincare formulations.