Research frontiers Natural products have been used for the treatment of various diseases as an alternative to conventional chemical agents. So far, several natural products have been screened for their antiviral effect against various viral infections. Screening of natural potent inhibitors for HCV has also become a research hotspot. Innovations Ivacaftor EC50 and breakthroughs Previous studies have shown the efficacy of natural products against HCV replication in a cell-based HCV replicon system. However, there have been few clinical studies that evaluated the safety and efficacy of these natural products. In the present study, the authors investigated the anti-HCV activity of fucoidan obtained from the Cladosiphon okamuranus Tokida cultivated in Okinawa, Japan, both in vitro and in vivo.

This pilot study is the first clinical trial that investigated the effect of fucoidan in patients with HCV-related chronic liver diseases. Applications Fucoidan inhibited HCV RNA replication in the HCV replicon assay system. The experimental data on fucoidan efficiency in cell culture stimulated the rationale for clinical study. Oral fucoidan administration resulted in temporary reduction of viral loads of genotype Ib in patients with chronic HCV infection, who were not eligible for, did not respond to, or were intolerant of interferon therapy. Fucoidan is well tolerated and no serious adverse events were observed in any of the patients. Fucoidan exhibited antiviral properties against HCV both in vitro and in vivo, and would be expected to become a new strategy for HCV infection.

Further controlled clinical trials will be required to confirm the present findings. Terminology Fucoidan is a complex sulfated polysaccharide found in the cell walls of several edible brown algae, including Fucus vesiculosus. The HCV replicon system replicates a modified HCV genome containing luciferase gene to high levels in human hepatoma cells. The efficacy of subgenomic HCV expression was estimated by measuring luciferase activity in the replicon cells. This system provides a powerful tool for studying virus replication and for screening anti-HCV drugs. Peer review The paper studied the effects of fucoidan, a complex sulfated polysaccharide extracted from marine seaweed, on HCV RNA load in vitro and in vivo. The research is of significance because of the high rate of nonresponders in HCV genotype I, which is the predominant strain in Japan.

Moreover, antiviral treatment causes frequent, unpleasant Dacomitinib and sometimes serious adverse effects, Thus the search for a new treatment modality without serious adverse effects is desirable. Footnotes Peer reviewers: Arturo Panduro, MD, PhD, Head of the Department of Molecular Biology in Medicine, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara Fray Antonio Alcalde/University of Guadalajara, Hospital No. 278 S.H.