Incorporation of Silver into Sulfate Groups Enhances Antimicrobial and Antiviral Effects of Fucoidan
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted our daily lives. Routine infection-control measures present an effective preventive strategy for a new infectious disease outbreak. Fucoidan, a fucose-rich sulfated polysaccharide found in brown algae, exhibits antiviral activity. Moreover, fucoidan e...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Marine Drugs |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/22/11/486 |
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| Summary: | The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted our daily lives. Routine infection-control measures present an effective preventive strategy for a new infectious disease outbreak. Fucoidan, a fucose-rich sulfated polysaccharide found in brown algae, exhibits antiviral activity. Moreover, fucoidan exerts an antimicrobial effect; however, it requires considerably higher concentrations than those needed for its antiviral effect. In this study, we aimed to enhance the antimicrobial activity of fucoidan and prepared a fucoidan silver salt (Ag-Fuc) by incorporating silver ions into the sulfate groups of Yakult Fucoidan derived from <i>Cladosiphon okamuranus</i> Tokida. The fucoidan exhibited a weak inhibitory effect on <i>Escherichia coli</i> growth at significantly higher concentrations, whereas Ag-Fuc inhibited the growth of <i>E. coli</i> and <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i> at concentrations comparable to those required for its antiviral effects. Moreover, Ag-Fuc inhibited the growth of <i>Cladosporium cladosporioides</i>. Infections of human cells with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza A virus were more effectively inhibited by lower concentrations of Ag-Fuc compared with fucoidan. Overall, silver ions added to the sulfate groups induced strong antimicrobial activity and enhanced the antiviral effect of fucoidan. We suggest a wide application of Ag-Fuc as a routine preventive material to avoid new infectious disease pandemics. |
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| ISSN: | 1660-3397 |