Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
Biofilms01:29

Biofilms

Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms encased in a self-produced extracellular polysaccharide matrix attached to surfaces. These microbial consortia can include single or multiple species, providing enhanced survival benefits by forming organized, multilayered structures.The formation of biofilms occurs through four key stages: attachment, colonization, development, and dispersal.During attachment, free-swimming planktonic cells adhere to a surface, often facilitated by...
Structural Protein Function01:56

Structural Protein Function

Structural proteins are a category of proteins responsible for functions ranging from cell shape and movement to providing support to major structures such as bones, cartilage, hair, and muscles. This group includes proteins such as collagen, actin, myosin, and keratin.
Collagen, the most abundant protein in mammals, is found throughout the body. In connective tissue, such as skin, ligaments, and tendons, it provides tensile strength and elasticity.  In bones and teeth, it mineralizes to form...
Structure-Activity Relationships and Drug Design01:28

Structure-Activity Relationships and Drug Design

Drug design is a dynamic field that involves discovering and developing new medications based on specific biological targets. This process heavily relies on structure-activity relationships (SAR) and quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) to guide the design and optimization of efficient drugs.
SAR studies the intricate relationship between a drug's chemical structure and biological activity. It focuses on understanding how modifications to a drug's structure can influence its...
Overview of Fungi01:29

Overview of Fungi

Fungi are a diverse group of eukaryotes more closely related to animals than other eukaryotes. Fungal cell walls comprise chitin, a polysaccharide that provides structural strength, and glucans, which contribute to flexibility and integrity. Other polysaccharides, such as mannans and galactosans, may supplement or replace chitin in some fungi. These adaptations, along with their preference for acidic environments and tolerance for high osmotic pressure, enable fungi to thrive in various...
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

[Comparative analysis of agronomic and qualitative characters in different lines of Dendrobium denneanum].

Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica·2010
Same author

Identification of the gene cluster for the dithiolopyrrolone antibiotic holomycin in Streptomyces clavuligerus.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2010
Same author

Safety evaluation of tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) flower extract: assessment of mutagenicity, and acute and subchronic toxicity in rats.

Journal of ethnopharmacology·2010
Same author

Influences of soil properties and leaching on nickel toxicity to barley root elongation.

Ecotoxicology and environmental safety·2010
Same author

Effects of CO2 insufflation on cerebrum during endoscopic thyroidectomy in a porcine model.

Surgical endoscopy·2010
Same author

Plants' use of different nitrogen forms in response to crude oil contamination.

Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)·2010
Same journal

Correction: Chen et al. Chemical Composition of <i>Litsea pungens</i> Essential Oil and Its Potential Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities. <i>Molecules</i> 2023, <i>28</i>, 6835.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same journal

Correction: Ruan et al. Comparison of Extraction, Isolation, Purification, Structural Characterization and Immunomodulatory Activity of Polysaccharides from Two Species of <i>Cistanche</i>. <i>Molecules</i> 2025, <i>30</i>, 4754.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same journal

Correction: Li et al. Gastrodin Ameliorates Cognitive Dysfunction in Vascular Dementia Rats by Suppressing Ferroptosis via the Regulation of the Nrf2/Keap1-GPx4 Signaling Pathway. <i>Molecules</i> 2022, <i>27</i>, 6311.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same journal

Correction: Zueva et al. Steady-State Kinetics of Enzyme-Catalyzed Hydrolysis of Echothiophate, a P-S Bonded Organophosphorus as Monitored by Spectrofluorimetry. <i>Molecules</i> 2020, <i>25</i>, 1371.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same journal

1,4-Diazatriphenylene and Its Hetero-Fused Analogs: Synthesis and Applications.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same journal

Comparative Phytochemical Studies on the Aerial Parts of <i>Teucrium davaeanum</i> Coss. and <i>Teucrium zanonii</i> Pamp.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Development and Characterization of Fusidic Acid-Loaded Alginate-Aloe vera Based Hydrogel Film
04:09

Development and Characterization of Fusidic Acid-Loaded Alginate-Aloe vera Based Hydrogel Film

Published on: December 13, 2024

Fucoidan: structure and bioactivity.

Bo Li1, Fei Lu, Xinjun Wei

  • 1School of Food Science, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang 453003, Henan, P.R. China. libowuxi@yahoo.com.cn

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 17, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Fucoidan, a brown seaweed polysaccharide, shows diverse biological activities. Research is advancing our understanding of its structure-bioactivity relationships for potential drug development.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Development and Characterization of Fusidic Acid-Loaded Alginate-Aloe vera Based Hydrogel Film
04:09

Development and Characterization of Fusidic Acid-Loaded Alginate-Aloe vera Based Hydrogel Film

Published on: December 13, 2024

Area of Science:

  • Marine Biotechnology
  • Natural Product Chemistry
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Fucoidan is a complex sulfated polysaccharide found in brown seaweed.
  • It is characterized by L-fucose and sulfate ester groups.
  • Fucoidan exhibits a wide range of biological activities, attracting significant research interest.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current research progress on fucoidan.
  • To summarize the elucidated structures of various fucoidans.
  • To explore the relationship between fucoidan structure and its bioactivity.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific publications on fucoidan.
  • Analysis of structural data from solved fucoidan molecules.
  • Compilation of reported biological activities and their correlation with structural features.

Main Results:

  • Several distinct fucoidan structures have been characterized.
  • Numerous biological activities, including anticoagulant, antiviral, and anticancer effects, have been documented.
  • Emerging evidence links specific structural motifs to particular bioactivities.

Conclusions:

  • Fucoidan's complex structure underlies its diverse bioactivities.
  • Further research into structure-activity relationships can guide the development of fucoidan-based therapeutics.
  • Fucoidan represents a promising source for novel drug discovery.