Progress in the study of fucoidan degradation

Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide, demonstrates many biological activities. It has found extensive applications across medicine, food, cosmetics, and other industries. Recent investigations have highlighted that low molecular weight fucoidan (LMWF) possesses enhanced bioavailability and greater biological efficacy than its high molecular weight counterpart. The reduced molecular size facilitates improved absorption and augments several physiological activities, particularly its antioxidant, anti-tumor, and hypoglycemic properties. As a result, strategies for fucoidan degradation hold significant scientific and practical relevance. This review provides an overview of the primary strategy for fucoidan degradation, encompassing physical, chemical, and biological methods, and evaluates the strengths and limitations of each approach. Among these, biodegradation emerges as a promising technique, offering advantages such as environmental sustainability, high specificity, product uniformity, and gentle reaction conditions. The LMWF shows considerable potential for use in medical and food-related applications, and its production through biodegradation supports broader goals of environmental conservation and sustainable development.