Fucoidan Immune-Enhancing Activity
Immune stimulation refers to the stimulation of the immune system by an external source. By increasing the immunity, every living organism can be protected from virus and invasion of foreign particles; therefore they can keep themselves healthy.
NK (Natural Killer)-Cell Activation
The NK cell activation triggered by Fucoidan was studied through comparing growth of sarcoma 180 (mouse ascites tumor cells) in BALB/C mice. This test was conducted with five groups of mice, which had been respectively fed, for 23 days, on “control feed”, “Mozuku (Cladosiphon okamuranus) Fucoidan mixed feed”, “Mekabu (Foot Stem of kelp (Laminaria japonica)) Fucoidan mixed feed”, “Agaricus mycelium extract mixed feed”, and “Fucoidan-mix feed”. |
Results
Although Mozuku Fucoidan and Mekabu Fucoidan have the qualities to boost the immune system, it is not a significant amount. Agaricus Blazei Mycelium extract offers a higher immune boosting effect. However, when combining all three, results show the highest increase in the activity was observed with the Fucoidan-mix fed mice.
Although Mozuku Fucoidan and Mekabu Fucoidan have the qualities to boost the immune system, it is not a significant amount. Agaricus Blazei Mycelium extract offers a higher immune boosting effect. However, when combining all three, results show the highest increase in the activity was observed with the Fucoidan-mix fed mice.
Macrophage Activation
Macrophage is a phagocyte cell, which has many important immunological functions such as digestion of foreign bodies in the system, mediation 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, an increase in glucose consumption by macrophage was obtained; therefore, activation of immune system by Fucoidan was confirmed.
From the result, an increase in glucose consumption by macrophage was obtained; therefore, activation of immune system by Fucoidan was confirmed.
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/1/1/23112548/2506200.jpg?417)
Examination Method
We examined the macrophage collected from the abdominal cavity of mice was added to Mozuku and measured quantity of the glucose in the nutrient medium that cultured for four hours.
Results
A mixture of Fucoidan (Fucoidan extracted Mozuku, and Agaricus mycelium) gives higher glucose consumption than when they are taken individually. Therefore, the mixture of Fucoidan and Agaricus has a better ability to activate immune system.
Why Agaricus Blazei Mycelium?Agaricus Blazei Murill (ABM) is an edible mushroom that originally grows near plateau city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Because to its health benefits, Agaricus is now cultivated in Japan, China and many other countries. The Mycelium is the silky root part of the mushroom. This root part has excellent nutrients such as proteins, amino-acids, well-balanced minerals, and β-D-glucans.
Agaricus first attracted attention as a possible anticancer agent because of the low incidence of cancer in people that consumed it. Agaricus contains β-D-glucan, glucan protein complex, acidic hetero glucan, xyloglucah, hetero glucan complex RAN protein complex and glucoprotein (lectin), which contribute to variety of biological effects such as immunostimulation, anti-tumor and lowering of blood sugar. |
ApoptosisApoptosis 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.
|
Angiogenesis InhibitionCancer cells need nutrients and oxygen to metastasize, so they send signals to generate new blood vessels around them. Once this occurs, they metastasize to other places.
Angiogenesis Inhibition Activity is blocking the generation of new blood vessels of cancer cells. |