Low molecular fucoidan and its macromolecular complex with bee venom melittin

Abstract

Low molecular weight (LMW) fucoidan, obtained by free radical depolymerization of high molecular poly-saccharide extract of brown algae Hizikia fusiformis, was complexed with HPLC purified bee venom melittin. Water soluble form of the LMW fucoidan:melittin complex shows increased anti-inflammatory activity, inhibiting the production of nitric oxide in murine macrophage cell line Raw 264.7. The LMW fucoidan: melitin complex obtained in this study showed good biological activities, resulting in 2-fold reduction of the melittin toxicity. The fucoidan:melittin macro-molecular complex obtained should be useful in fu-ture therapeutic applications.