Contrasting Correlation in the Inhibition Response of ADP-induced Platelet Aggregation and the Anti-coagulant Activities of Algal fucoidans Derived from Eisenia bicyclis and Undaria pinnatifida sporophylls (Mekabu)

Sulfated fucans are known to have both anti-thrombotic and anti-coagulant activities. In this study, the variation in platelet aggregation and anti-coagulant activities was investigated in vitro with regard to administered dose, molecular weight distribution, sulfate content, and sugar composition in two algal fucoidans from Eisenia bicyclis and Undaria pinnatifida sporophylls (Mekabu). The anti-coagulant activity largely correlated with sulfate content and with molecular weight distribution in a dose-dependent manner. However, both fucoidans demonstrated inhibitory responses to ADP-induced platelet aggregation in dose- and structure-dependent manners that contrasted with the anti-coagulant activity. Neither molecular weight distribution nor sulfate content greatly affected platelet-aggregation inhibition (PA-inhibition) by the fucoidan fractions, whereas anti-coagulant activity was sensitive to these structural factors. Interestingly, an E. bicyclis fucoidan fraction exhibited almost complete PA-inhibition at a treatment dose of 500 mg/mL while retaining weak anti-coagulant activity. In conclusion, these observations suggest that fucoidan may be a useful anti-thrombotic or anti-platelet agent in various arterial thrombotic disorders, including post-vascular intervention with controlled bleeding complications, due to its anti-coagulant modulating activity.