Particulate Matter-Induced Inflammation/Oxidative Stress in Macrophages: Fucosterol from Padina boryana as a Potent Protector, Activated via NF-κB/MAPK Pathways and Nrf2/HO-1 Involvement

Fucosterol is a phytosterol that is abundant in marine brown algae and is a renowned secondary metabolite. However, its ability to protect macrophages against particulate matter (PM) has not been clarified with regard to inflammation; thus, this study aimed to illustrate the above. Padina boryana, a brown algae that is widespread in Indo–Pacific waters, was applied in the isolation of fucosterol. Isolation was conducted using silica open columns, while identification was assisted with gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and NMR. Elevated levels of PM led the research objectives toward the implementation of it as a stimulant. Both inflammation and oxidative stress were caused due the fact of its effect. RAW 264.7 macrophages were used as a model system to evaluate the process. It was apparent that the increased NO production levels, due to the PM, were mediated through the inflammatory mediators, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), including prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)). Further, investigations provided solid evidence regarding the involvement of NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in the process. Oxidative stress/inflammation which are inseparable components of the cellular homeostasis were intersected through the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Conclusively, fucosterol is a potent protector against PM-induced inflammation in macrophages and hence be utilized as natural product secondary metabolite in a sustainable manner

Marine proteins and peptides: Production, biological activities, and potential applications

Marine protein hydrolysates and peptides have grown in popularity due to their biological activities and robust properties. They are increasingly studied in the functional food, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical sectors. This article discusses the current knowledge about preparing protein hydrolysates and peptides from seaweed, seafood, and seafood processing byproducts. Gaps in knowledge and technical expertise required for their industrial integration have been identified. The desire for natural substances to use as functional food has gained prevalence as consumers have become more aware of the adverse side effects of synthetic drugs. Aging-related chronic diseases, including cancer, arteriosclerosis, and diabetes, can be prevented by actively introducing food-based functional ingredients. Marine-derived proteins and peptides still face several hurdles to commercialization, such as scaling up production and maintaining a sustainable supply of raw materials. Further understanding of the physiological functionalities, action mechanisms, and clinical efficacy of these peptides and proteins would facilitate their use in biomedical applications and as functional ingredients in food and cosmetics

The Role of Seaweed Polysaccharides in Gastrointestinal Health: Protective Effect against Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a prominent global public health issue. Anti-inflammatory medications, immunosuppressants, and biological therapies are currently used as treatments. However, they are often unsuccessful and have negative consequences on human health. Thus, there is a tremendous demand for using natural substances, such as seaweed polysaccharides, to treat IBD’s main pathologic treatment targets. The cell walls of marine algae are rich in sulfated polysaccharides, including carrageenan in red algae, ulvan in green algae, and fucoidan in brown algae. These are effective candidates for drug development and functional nutrition products. Algal polysaccharides treat IBD through therapeutic targets, including inflammatory cytokines, adhesion molecules, intestinal epithelial cells, and intestinal microflora. This study aimed to systematically review the potential therapeutic effects of algal polysaccharides on IBD while providing the theoretical basis for a nutritional preventive mechanism for IBD and the restoration of intestinal health. The results suggest that algal polysaccharides have significant potential in complementary IBD therapy and further research is needed for fully understanding their mechanisms of action and potential clinical applications

The Potential of Sulfated Polysaccharides Isolated from the Brown Seaweed Ecklonia maxima in Cosmetics: Antioxidant, Anti-melanogenesis, and Photoprotective Activities

Sulfated polysaccharides prepared from marine algae are potential ingredients in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical industries. In the present study, the antioxidant, anti-melanogenesis, and photoprotective effects of sulfated polysaccharides obtained from Ecklonia maxima (EMC) were investigated to evaluate their potential in cosmetic. EMC was successfully prepared through Celluclast-assisted extraction and ethanol precipitation, and it contained 79.88% of sulfated polysaccharides that with 69.37% carbohydrates and 10.51% sulfate. EMC effectively suppressed 2,2-azobis(2-amidinopropane) hydrochloride (AAPH)-induced oxidative stress in vitro in Vero cells and in vivo in zebrafish. Furthermore, EMC significantly inhibited mushroom tyrosinase and reduced melanin synthesis in alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-stimulated B16F10 cells. In addition, EMC remarkably attenuated photodamage induced by UVB irradiation in vitro in human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) and in vivo in zebrafish. Furthermore, EMC effectively inhibited wrinkle-related enzymes and improved collagen synthesis in UVB-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts (HDF cells). These results indicate that EMC possesses strong antioxidant, anti-melanogenesis, and photoprotective activities, and suggest that EMC may be an ideal ingredient in the pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical industries

Recent Reports on Bioactive Compounds from Marine Cyanobacteria in Relation to Human Health Applications

The ocean is a valuable natural resource that contains numerous biologically active compounds with various bioactivities. The marine environment comprises unexplored sources that can be utilized to isolate novel compounds with bioactive properties. Marine cyanobacteria are an excellent source of bioactive compounds that have applications in human health, biofuel, cosmetics, and bioremediation. These cyanobacteria exhibit bioactive properties such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-diabetic, anti-viral, antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-obesity effects, making them promising candidates for drug development. In recent decades, researchers have focused on isolating novel bioactive compounds from different marine cyanobacteria species for the development of therapeutics for various diseases that affect human health. This review provides an update on recent studies that explore the bioactive properties of marine cyanobacteria, with a particular focus on their potential use in human health applications

Antioxidant Potential of Sulfated Polysaccharides from Padina boryana; Protective Effect against Oxidative Stress in In Vitro and In Vivo Zebrafish Model

Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage the internal cell components. Padina boryana, a brown alga from the Maldives, was subjected to polysaccharide extraction. The Celluclast enzyme assisted extract (PBE) and ethanol precipitation (PBP) of P. boryana were assessed against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced cell damage and zebra fish models. PBP which contains the majority of sulfated polysaccharides based on fucoidan, showed outstanding extracellular ROS scavenging potential against H2O2. PBP significantly declined the intracellular ROS levels, and exhibited protection against apoptosis. The study revealed PBPs’ ability to activate the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway, consequently initiating downstream elements such that catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Further, ROS levels, lipid peroxidation values in zebrafish studies were declined with the pre-treatment of PBP. Collectively, the results obtained in the study suggest the polysaccharides from P. boryana might be a potent source of water soluble natural antioxidants that could be sustainably utilized in the industrial applications

Alginic Acid from Padina boryana Abate Particulate Matter-Induced Inflammatory Responses in Keratinocytes and Dermal Fibroblasts

Particulate matter (PM) is a significant participant in air pollution and is hence an inducer of serious health issues. This study aimed to evaluate the dust protective effects of alginate from Padina boryana (PBA) via inflammatory-associated pathways to develop anti-fine dust skincare products. In between the external and internal environments, the skin is considered to be more than a physical barrier. It was observed that PM stimulates inflammation in the skin via activating NF-κB and MAPK pathways. The potential of PBA to inhibit the studied pathways were evident. The metal ion content of PM was considerably reduced by PBA and thus attributed to its chelation ability. Current research demonstrated the potential of P. boryana alginates to be implemented as a protective barrier against inflammation imposed with heavy metal and bacterial-derived endotoxin bound to the surface of the PM. Concisely, the results suggest that the bioactive components derived from the brown algae Padina boryana increased the cellular resistance to PM-stimulated inflammation-driven skin damage

Clionasterol-Rich Fraction of Caulerpa racemosa against Particulate Matter-Induced Skin Damage via Inhibition of Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis-Related Signaling Pathway

The increasing airborne particulate matter (PM) consisting of environmental contaminants such as dust, aerosols, and fibers has become a global concern by causing oxidative stress that leads to apoptosis and skin damage. The current study evaluated the protective effect of Caulerpa racemosa (CR) against PM-induced skin damage using human keratinocytes and a zebrafish model. The clionasterol-rich hexane fraction (CRHF2) of CR exhibited superior protective activity through downregulating intracellular reactive oxygen species levels and mitochondrial ROS levels, as well as the PM-induced increase in apoptotic body formation and upregulation of apoptotic signaling pathway proteins, along with sub-G1 cell accumulation dose-dependently. Furthermore, in vivo results showed that CRHF2 potentially downregulates PM-induced cell death, ROS, and NO production in the zebrafish model. Hence, the results evidenced that the protective effect of CRHF2 is caused by inhibiting oxidative stress and mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in cells. Therefore, C. racemosa has the potential to be used in the development of pharmaceuticals to attenuate PM-induced skin diseases

Eckmaxol Isolated from Ecklonia maxima Attenuates Particulate-Matter-Induced Inflammation in MH-S Lung Macrophage

Airborne particulate matter (PM) originating from industrial processes is a major threat to the environment and health in East Asia. PM can cause asthma, collateral lung tissue damage, oxidative stress, allergic reactions, and inflammation. The present study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of eckmaxol, a phlorotannin isolated from Ecklonia maxima, against PM-induced inflammation in MH-S macrophage cells. It was found that PM induced inflammation in MH-S lung macrophages, which was inhibited by eckmaxol treatment in a dose-dependent manner (21.0–84.12 µM). Eckmaxol attenuated the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in PM-induced lung macrophages. Subsequently, nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E-2 (PGE-2), and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) were downregulated. PM stimulated inflammation in MH-S lung macrophages by activating Toll-like receptors (TLRs), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Eckmaxol exhibited anti-inflammatory properties by suppressing the activation of TLRs, downstream signaling of NF-κB (p50 and p65), and MAPK pathways, including c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38. These findings suggest that eckmaxol may offer substantial therapeutic potential in the treatment of inflammatory diseases

A Review on Fucoidan Structure, Extraction Techniques, and Its Role as an Immunomodulatory Agent

Functional ingredients for human health have recently become the focus of research. One such potentially versatile therapeutic component is fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides (FCSPs), referred to as fucoidans. The exploitation of marine brown algae provides a rich source of FCSPs because of their role as a structural component of the cell wall. Fucoidans are characterized by a sulfated fucose backbone. However, the structural characterization of FCSPs is impeded by their structural diversity, molecular weight, and complexity. The extraction and purification conditions significantly influence the yield and structural alterations. Inflammation is the preliminary response to potentially injurious inducements, and it is of the utmost importance for modulation in the proper direction. Improper manipulation and/or continuous stimuli could have detrimental effects in the long run. The web of immune responses mediated through multiple modulatory/cell signaling components can be addressed through functional ingredients, benefiting patients with no side effects. In this review, we attempted to address the involvement of FCSPs in the stimulation/downregulation of immune response cell signaling. The structural complexity and its foremost influential factor, extraction techniques, have also attracted attention, with concise details on the structural implications of bioactivity