Date Published:
1 September 2006 |
Seaweed extract hailed as a promising natural medicine
A natural seaweed extract – which might help protect against
inflammatory conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis
and assist in the breakdown of dangerous blood clots – is being
studied by Southern Cross University researchers.
The research is being conducted on behalf of the Australian Centre
for Complementary Medicine, Education and Research (ACCMER*).
Professor Stephen Myers, head of Southern Cross University’s
NatMed Research Unit and ACCMER research fellow, said the studies,
being done at the University’s Centre for Phytochemistry, had
far-reaching potential in the rapidly expanding world market for nutraceuticals.
Nutraceuticals are natural compounds taken to promote good health
and fight disease, as compared to pharmaceuticals, which are generally
drug-based treatments.
Professor Myers recently gave the opening address at the launch of
a new Tasmanian seaweed processing plant which harvests and refines
the seaweed. The plant is owned by Marinova, a Hobart biotechnology
company. The research is being undertaken on behalf of the company.
“ Fucoidan, the seaweed extract being processed by Marinova,
has some very exciting properties which could lead to many medicinal
uses,” Professor Myers said.
“ Research shows it has broad-spectrum anti-viral properties,
including against the HIV and herpes simplex (cold sore) viruses as
well as tumour inhibiting properties.
_ It also has cholesterol-lowering
and anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to dissolve blood
clots, so it has many potential uses
in promoting cardiovascular health.
_ There is already some epidemiological
and animal evidence on its efficacy and at Southern Cross University
we are involved in laboratory
tests to further advance this research.
_ The results are strong enough to
warrant human clinical trails as the next step to prove its value
as a medicinal product.”
Marinova business development manager Nick Falk said the company had
begun harvesting the seaweed in 1998 off the Tasmanian east coast.
The seaweed species, Undaria Pinnatifida, was not native to Australia
but had arrived in the bilge water of foreign ships and was considered
a noxious weed. However the same species is highly prized in Asia as
wakame, an ingredient in foods such as miso soup.
“ Over the last 15 years, with the observation that seaweed
eating populations show lower rates of cancer, HIV and inflammatory
conditions,
there has been an increase in investigational and clinical trial activity
focused on fucoidans,” Mr Falk said.
“ Marinova has its own research and development program and
our work stems from the existing body of fucoidan research.
_ Following the completion of our
new proprietary extraction facility in Tasmania, Marinova has the
capacity to develop fucoidans
at a higher purity than any of our competitors.”
Mr Falk said the company had been introduced to a major US-based international
commercial partner by ACCMER and the extract was now being used extensively
in many of their health products.
He said the extract provided health benefits similar to the cardiovascular
drug heparin without any of its known serious health risks.
He hoped the research work at Southern Cross University would continue
to provide evidence for the efficacy of the extract and lead to its
use in many more nutraceutical and cosmetic products.
“ Fucoidans are polysaccharides and naturally occurring
components of certain edible seaweeds and echinoderms. They have
been part of
the human diet for centuries and in countries such as Japan and Korea,
are prized for their dietary and medicinal properties,” Mr
Falk said.
“ The term fucoidan describes a diverse family of molecules
rather than a single chemical compound. Each type of brown marine algae
or
echinoderm yields a specific fucoidan, and each fucoidan varies in
its clinical benefit.
_ Our primary interest in fucoidans
stems from their ability to act as immunomodulators, selectin antagonists,
viral attachment
inhibitors, enzyme inhibitors and receptor blockers. Fucoidans and
their derivatives demonstrate considerable anti-viral, anti-coagulant
and cholesterol lowering activity.
_ Through extraction and fractionation,
these naturally occurring molecules can be utilized as high efficacy
targeted therapeutics.”
* The Australian Centre for Complementary Medicine Education and Research
(ACCMER) is Australasia’s leading centre for evidence-based research
and post-graduate education in complementary medicine.
ACCMER is a
joint venture between the University of Queensland and Southern Cross
University, establishing a world first collaboration
between conventional and complementary medicine.
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are not necessarily those of IvyRose Ltd.. Material in this news item was released
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the Australian based source listed below
on 1 September 2006 and
may have been edited (e.g. in style, length, and/or for
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Source:  Southern Cross University (Australia).
http://www.scu.edu.au
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