What is Fucus?

Fucus is a substance found in the cell walls of brown seaweeds, most highly concentrated in Fucus vesiculosus.  This unique seaweed grown in abundance along the North Atlantic coast of Canada, where it's cold and clean growing environment is continuously replenished by the world's highest tides. Fucus is what makes seaweed the tough, leathery, slippery plant we think of. It serves as a barrier between the plant and the elements and provides the bladderwrack benefits.

What are the Properties of Fucus?

Fucus contains high concentrations of fucose (not to be confused with fructose) which is one of the eight essential glyconutrients that are used to construct many of the molecular building blocks for various biological processes (and life) to continue.   These essential sugars include sugars commonly found in our diets such as glucose from cane sugar and galactose from milk.  However, concentrations of the essential sugar fucose are low in Western diets.

What are the Health Benefits of Fucus?

So many benefits have been found that the true medical benefits of brown seaweed are, in fact, rather hotly debated.  However, there is one thing that everyone seems to agree on...

Fucus-rich, brown seaweed is good for you.  Currently, much research is being done on the effects of Fucus-rich seaweed on cell-related illnesses, as well as its power as an anti-aging dietary supplement. One cannot help noticing that cultures whose diet is high in Fucus have exceptionally low instances of cell-related illnesses and boast famously long life spans.

One theory of Fucus states that the essential sugar fucose acts as a decoy for unwanted organisms and debris in the body, allowing these illness-causing agents to bind to fucose instead of your cell.  Simply put, the fucose that makes seaweed slippery also makes dangerous organisms slide off your cells.  This helps to prevent cell-related diseases and to inhibit tumors.

Fucus also stimulates the development of immune system cells, boosting the body’s ability to fight off variousfree radicals.  The National Institute of Health has stated that the number one cause of illness is infectious disease.  Yet 90% of the off-the-shelf vitamins recommended to strengthen the immune system loose much of their potency in the packaging process.  Fucus extracted with theFull Spectrum Method retains it immune-enhancing properties.

Recent Studies Have Shown:

• A Japanese study demonstrated that fucus enhanced the process by which white blood cells engulf and destroy bacteria and viruses.¹
• A US study showed that fucus increases the numbers of white blood cells in your system, the cells that act as your immunity army against free radicals.²
• An American study demonstrated the influence fucus has on the body’s ability to repair damaged cells and inhibit the degeneration of aging cells.³

References:

1. H, Noda H, Amano H, Zhuaung C, Mizuno T and Ito H. Antitumor Activity and Immunological Properties of Marine Algal Polysaccharises, Especially Fucus, Prepared from Sargassum Thumbergii of Phaeophyceae. Anticancer Research, Nov-Dec 1993, 13(6A): 2045-52

2. Sweeney EA, Lortat-Jacob H, Priestley GV, Nakamoto B, Papayannopoulou T. Sulfated polysaccharides increase plasma levels of SDF-1 in monkeys and mice: involvement in mobilization of stem/progenitor cells. Blood, Jan 1 2002, 99(1): 44-51

3. Frenette PS, Weiss L. Sulfated glycans induce rapid hematopoietic progenitor cell mobilization: evidence for selectin-dependent and independent mechanisms. Blood, 2000 Oct 1, 96(7): 2460-8

There are over 135 scientific studies done on Fucus vesiculosus and fucus.  Listed below are some extracts of these studies.  For more in-depth research, please visit http://www.pubmed.gov/

Fucus and Fucus vesiculosus Studies

Menstrual Cycle & Pre-menopausal

The effect of Fucus vesiculosus, an edible brown seaweed, upon menstrual cycle length and hormonal status in three pre-menopausal women.  A Case Report - Rates of estrogen-dependent cancers are among the highest in Western countries and lower in the East. These variations may be attributable to differences in dietary exposures such as higher seaweed consumption among Asian populations. The edible brown kelp, Fucus vesiculosus (bladderwrack), as well as other brown kelp species, lower plasma cholesterol levels.

Antioxidant Studies

A new antioxidant isobenzofuranone derivative from the algicolous marine fungus Epicoccum sp.   A new compound isolated from the marine brown algae Fucus vesiculosus (Bladder wrack) was found to have high antioxidant properties, "showing 95 % DPPH radical scavenging effects at 25 microg/mL."

Potential antioxidant capacity of sulfated polysaccharides from the edible marine brown seaweed Fucus vesiculosus.   This experiment conducted in Spain analyzed the antioxidating power of Fucus vesiculosus (Bladder wrack) and concluded that "sulfated polysaccharides from edible seaweeds potentially could be used as natural antioxidants by the food industry."

Immunity and Antibacterial Studies

Sulfated polysaccharides increase plasma levels of SDF-1 in monkeys and mice: involvement in mobilization of stem/progenitor cells.  Fucus was found to increase the level of white blood cells in circulation in monkeys and mice.  White blood cells are known for their bacterial fighting capability.

Immunostimulating and anticoagulating activity of Fucus from brown algae Fucus evanescens of Okhotskoe sea.  Fucus was compared to heparin (a prescription drug used to slow the formation of blood clots).  "The results of investigation demonstrated possibility of fucus application as immunomodulating and anticoagulating agent of plant origin."

Tumor Studies

Antitumor activity and immune response of Mekabu Fucus extracted from Sporophyll of Undaria pinnatifida.  This Japanese study "showed that Fucus, extracted from dietary seaweed, could inhibit tumor growth."

Cytotoxic effects against HeLa cells of polysaccharides from seaweeds.  Compounds from various seaweeds were isolated and tested against cultured human cancer cells (HeLa cells).  It was found that sulfated fucans "caused significant alterations in the cellular morphology and reduction of the growth."  Fucus is a sulfated fucan.  

Dietary seaweed (Laminaria) and mammary carcinogenesis in rats.  Dietary brown seaweed in rats was found to delay tumor onset, and rats that were fed the seaweed had fewer tumors per individual than rats that were not fed the seaweed.

Antitumor and antiproliferative effects of a fucan extracted from ascophyllum nodosum against a non-small-cell bronchopulmonary carcinoma line.  In this French study, the antitumor and antiproliferative properties of Fucus extract was studied on bronchopulmonary carcinoma, a cell-line found to be particularly chemo-resistant.  It was also tested in vivo in mice.  The results of the study showed that HF (fucus extract) "exhibits inhibitory effect both in vitro and in vivo and is very potent antitumor agent in cancer therapy."

Antitumor activity and immunological properties of marine algal polysaccharides, especially Fucus, prepared from Sargassum thunbergii of Phaeophyceae.  A marine algal polysaccharide containing fucus was tested in vivo in mice, and was shown to inhibit the growth of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma.  The results "suggest that the antitumor activity of fucus is related to the enhancement of immune responses," and that "Fucus may open new perspectives in cancer chemotherapy."
 

HIV Studies

A new procedure for the isolation of anti-HIV compounds (polysaccharides and polyphenols) from the marine alga Fucus vesiculosus.  In this German study, compounds isolated from Fucus vesiculosus "were tested for inhibition of both HIV-induced syncytium formation and HIV reverse transcriptase enzyme activity. Some of these fractions inhibited both of these activities..."

Toxicity Studies

Inhibitory effect of Fucus on the activities of crotaline snake venom myotoxic phospholipases A(2).  In this interesting Costa Rican study, fucus from Fucus vesiculosus was found to significantly inhibit muscle damage in mice caused by the envenenomation of a crotaline snake.

Circulatory Studies

Use of sulfated fucans as anticoagulant and antithrombotic agents: future perspectives.  This Brazilian study indicated the use of fucus as an anticoagulant (inhibits blood clots) and an antithrombotic (inhibits blood clots lodging in vessels) agent.  The study found that fucus had promise as an alternative to heparin, a prescription anticoagulant, and displayed both anticoagulant and antithrombotic properties.

Anticoagulant Activity of Fucus from Brown Algae Fucus evanescens of the Okhotsk Sea.  Fucus was found to have anticoagulant properties similar to heparin, a prescription anticoagulant.  

Low-molecular-weight Fucus promotes therapeutic revascularization in a rat model of critical hindlimb ischemia.  Ischemia refers to insufficient bloodflow to a specific part of the body.  When fucus was administered to rats with acute ischemia to the hindlimbs, it was found to increase bloodflow, regenerate muscle tissue, and increase capillary density.

Low molecular weight Fucus prevents neointimal hyperplasia in rabbit iliac artery in-stent restenosis model.  Hyperplasia is an abnormal proliferation of cells that can lead to restenosis (a narrowing of the blood vessels).  When administered to rabbits, Fucus from brown seaweed "markedly reduced intimal hyperplasia, suggesting its use for the prevention of human in-stent restenosis."

Venous antithrombotic and anticoagulant activities of a Fucus fraction.  Conducted in France, this study demonstrated antithrombotic properties  (inhibits blood clots lodging in vessels) of fucus and stated that it "shows promise as an antithrombotic drug."

Anticoagulant Fucus fractions from Fucus vesiculosus induce platelet activation in vitro.  Fucus from Fucus vesiculosus was found to exhibit anticoagulent and fibrinolytic (breaks up thrombi that clog vessels) properties.

New natural polysaccharides with potent antithrombic activity: fucans from brown algae.  This French study shows that fucans extracted from brown algae have anticoagulant properites and "may prove useful as anticoagulant drugs."

Anti-Irritation and Wound Healing Studies

Evidence for bioadhesive effects of polysaccharides and polysaccharide-containing herbs in an ex vivo bioadhesion assay on buccal membranes.  Polysaccharides from Fucus vesiculosus were found to adhere strongly to epithelial membranes, perhaps accounting for its therapeutic use to ease irritated mucus membranes.  

Fucus is the active component of fucus vesiculosus that promotes contraction of fibroblast-populated collagen gels.  Fucus from Fucus vesiculosus was shown to promote collagen gel contraction.  Collagen gel is used to model human skin and to study the effect of substances on the wound healing process.  

Modulation of human endothelial cell proliferation and migration by Fucus and heparin.  The results of this French study suggest fucus as a potential therapeutic agent in the wound repair of vascular endothelium (the layer of cells lining blood vessels).

Skin Enhancing Studies