Relationship between sulfate groups and biological activities of fucans

The anticoagulant and antiproliferative effects of low molecular weight fucans with different sulfate content were examined. The anticoagulant activity was determined by activated partial thromboplastin time and the antiproliferative one was achieved in vitro on CCL39 fibroblast cell line. The results showed that inhibitory effects of fucans on both coagulation and cell proliferation are dependent on their sulfation degree. Decreased sulfation diminishes the two activities not in the same manner: some low molecular weight fucan fractions with no anticoagulant activity retain their ability to inhibit cell growth. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.