Supporting hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid is a polysaccharide produced naturally in the skin, eyes and joints. It plays an important role in moisture retention. Different forms of hyaluronic acid are utilised in skincare and cosmetic products, primarily to support hydration and improve skin appearance by reducing lines and wrinkles.
Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid. The inhibition of hyaluronidase activity prevents the degradation of hyaluronic acid and helps to preserve its benefits. A recent in vivo study explored the effects that fucoidan may have on hyaluronidase activity, finding that it had a significant inhibitory effect. At a molecular level, the fucoidan was shown to bind to the active site of the hyaluronidase and form a stable complex. The results suggest that fucoidan acts as a novel hyaluronidase inhibitor.
In addition to skincare applications, fucoidan as a hyaluronidase inhibitor may have future applications in the treatment of hyaluronidase-related diseases. It may also be useful in the development of hyaluronidase-based biomaterials for drug delivery and organ transplantation.
The paper, ‘Molecular insight into the inhibitory effect of sulfated polysaccharide fucoidan on hyaluronidase activity’ was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.