A combined Phase I and II open-label study on the immunomodulatory effects of seaweed extract nutrient complex

Abstract

Background:Isolated fucoidans from brown marine algae have been shown to have a range of immune-modulating effects. This exploratory study aimed to determine whether a seaweed nutrient complex containing a blend of extracts from three different species of brown algae plus nutrients is safe to administer and has biological potential as an immune modulator. The study was undertaken as an open-label combined Phase I and II study.Methods:Participants (n = 10) were randomized to receive the study medication at either a 100 mg (n = 5) or 1000 mg (n = 5) dose over 4 weeks. The primary outcome measurement was in vivo changes in lymphocyte subsets. The secondary outcome measures were ex vivo changes in T-lymphocyte (CD4 and CD8) activation, phagocytosis of granulocytes and monocytes, T helper 1/T helper 2 cytokines, and serum oxygen radical absorbance capacity.Results:The preparation was found to be safe over the 4 weeks at both doses tested. There were no clinically relevant changes to blood measurements of hemopoietic, hepatic, or renal function. Immunomodulatory measurements showed no dose response between the two doses. The combined results from the two doses demonstrated a significant increase in cytotoxic T cell numbers and phagocytic capacity in monocytes, and a significant decrease in levels of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin 6. A separate analysis of the 100 mg dose (n = 5) alone showed a significant linear component over time (P < 0.05) for phagocytosis by both granulocytes and monocytes.Conclusion:The seaweed nutrient complex was safe to use when taken orally over 4 weeks. The preparation was demonstrated to have potential as an immune modulator, and this bioactivity deserves further exploration.

Therapies from Fucoidan; Multifunctional Marine Polymers

“…Frequencies of HTLV-1-specific CD8(+) T-cells, natural killer cells, invariant natural killer T-cells and dendritic cells in the peripheral blood were analyzed but did not show significant changes. This contrasts with research in which fucoidan intake did alter immune parameters [33,40]. In this clinical study, there were mild side effects.…”

Electrochemical behaviour at a liquid-organogel microinterface array of fucoidan extracted from algae

“…9 Fucoidan was found to induce apoptosis of some human cancer cells (colon, urinary bladder, and lymphoma cancer cells) [10][11][12] and was also investigated for other cancer therapies. 13,14 Moreover, fucoidan was reported to help minimise osteoarthritis, 15 to have immunomodulatory effects 16 and to inhibit retroviruses such as the herpes simplex virus and the human immunovirus (HIV). [17][18][19] Given its range of practical applications, a simple and direct detection method for measuring the presence of fucoidan is desirable.…”

Antioxidant, Antiproliferative, and Antiangiogenesis Effects of Polyphenol-Rich Seaweed (Sargassum muticum)

“…The anticancer potency of mechanism through which algae exert their effects is complex because of their noteworthy structural diversity, which entails multiple interactions [15, 16]. An algal antioxidant-mediated mechanism [17, 18] enhances the host's defense by increasing natural killer cell activity [19], activating of nonspecific immune system [9], inhibiting the cell growth in the G1 phase, inducing terminal differentiation [7], inhibiting the complex process of angiogenesis [20], down regulating the endogenous oestrogen biosynthesis [14], and inducting of apoptosis [14] which were hypothesized as a contributing factors in the inhibition of carcinogenesis by algae.…”