Seaweed (via Fucoidan) and Antitumor effect on Oral Cancers
- Infinitum Health Team
- Oct 22, 2020
- 2 min read
Excellent new study on the antitumor effect on Oral Cancers (oral squamous cell carcinoma) often caused by smoking, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and HPV infection by one of our favorite seaweed species, fucus vesiculosus and its fucoidan components. An excellent seaweed species to complement your diet that is already in our Infinimin® and Infinderm® brands!!
Many seaweed studies suggested that fucoidan, a key extract in seaweed, has anticancer potential. The objective of this study was to determine the cytotoxic effects and mechanism of cell death induced by fucoidan extracted from Fucus vesiculosus on HSC-3 oral squamous cell carcinoma. HSC-3 cells were treated with 0, 100, 200, and 400 μg/mL of fucoidan. Cell viability was measured using an MTT assay. Apoptosis (cell death) and cell cycle were measured with a flow cytometry-based assay. Chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation were determined using Hoechst 33342 staining. Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was determined using the JC-1 kit. The apoptotic, anti-apoptotic, and autophagic markers study were done by western blot analysis.
The results showed the viable cell number of treated HSC-3 cells was statistically significantly decreased. Moreover, treated cells were arrested in the G0/G1 phase. Annexin V/PI staining revealed that fucoidan could induce apoptosis in HSC-3 cells. Western blot analysis suggested the up-regulation of apoptotic markers including cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, Bax, and autophagic markers including LC3-II and Beclin-1 but down-regulation of anti-apoptotic markers, Bcl-2. Fucoidan could disturb ΔΨm and induce chromatin condensation with nuclear fragmentation.
A technical mouthful, right? Hang on, we'll summarize in human speak shortly, we just like to give the authors of the study their due credit by using their actual analysis and terms.
Overall, fucoidan has potential in anticancer properties against HSC-3 cells manifested by the induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and autophagy.
So, for human speak, fucoidan, as we have shown in many of our research posts, induces apoptosis (cancer cell death), cell cycle arrest (stopping the division of new cells), and autophagy (the body's way of cleaning out damaged cells, in order to regenerate newer, healthier cells). These results provide the mechanisms associated with the antitumor activity of fucoidan, in vitro, that may be used as an effective therapeutic agent against oral squamous cell carcinoma in the future.
As always, more research is needed, but another great step in the right direction for one of our favorite seaweed species, fucus vesiculosus and its fucoidan components. An excellent seaweed species to complement to your diet that is already in our Infinimin® and Infinderm® brands!!
Cheers to your health,
~Infinitum Health Team
References
Pathanin Chantree, et. al. Antitumor Effects of Fucoidan Via Apoptotic and Autophagic Induction on HSC-3 Oral Squamous CellCarcinoma. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 21 (8), 2469-2477
(PDF download below for reference)
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