Algal Polysaccharides as Therapeutic Agents for Atherosclerosis

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

Emily Y. Yang¹  Daniel Chavarria¹  Victoria Le¹  Andrew D. Sligar¹  Lei Mei¹  Nikita P. Patil¹  Aaron B. Baker² 

[1] Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States;Institute for Biomaterials, Drug Delivery and Regenerative Medicine, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States;Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States;Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States;

关键词: atherosclerosis;    seaweed;    fucoidan;    ulvan;    laminarin;    alginate;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fcvm.2018.00153

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Seaweed-derived polysaccharides including agar and alginate, have found widespread applications in biomedical research and medical therapeutic applications including wound healing, drug delivery, and tissue engineering. Given the recent increases in the incidence of diabetes, obesity and hyperlipidemia, there is a pressing need for low cost therapeutics that can economically and effectively slow the progression of atherosclerosis. Marine polysaccharides have been consumed by humans for millennia and are available in large quantities at low cost. Polysaccharides such as fucoidan, laminarin sulfate and ulvan have shown promise in reducing atherosclerosis and its accompanying risk factors in animal models. However, others have been tested in very limited context in scientific studies. In this review, we explore the current state of knowledge for these promising therapeutics and discuss the potential and challenges of using seaweed derived polysaccharides as therapies for atherosclerosis.

【 授权许可】

Unknown