Objective: To investigate the effects of fucoidan on the production of lipid peroxide (LPO) in mice. Methods: (1) Fucoidan
was orally administered to mice at doses of 10, 50, 150, and 300 mg/kg·d for 7 days. Then all mice were injected intravenously with 70 mg/kg alloxan, 4 days later, LPO content in serum, liver, and spleen was determined. (2) Different doses of fucoidan were orally administered to alloxan-induced diabetic mice for 7 days, and LPO level was assayed. (3) In vitro, 0.05%, 0 25%, 0.75%, and 1.5% fucoidan solution only or with Cys/FeSO 4 together were added into liver or spleen
homogenates, and LPO was determined. Results: Those groups administered with fucoidan prior to alloxan injection had remarkable low LPO values, as compared with experimental control. Fucoidan (po 50 mg/kg·d) prevented the increase of LPO in serum, liver and spleen of diabetic mice by 32 7% (P<0 001), 22.7% and 20.0% (P<0.01), respectively. It also obviously reduced LPO levels in serum, liver and spleen of diabetic mice by 34.1%, 29.3%, and 30.3%, respectively. No statistical differences were found in LPO levels between liver or spleen homogenates added with fucoidan only or with Cys/FeSO 4 together. Conclusion: Fucoidan (po 50 mg/kg·d) can prevent the increase of LPO in serum, liver and spleen of diabetic mice obviously. However, no inhibition effect was found on both spontaneous
lipid peroxidation of homogenates and that induced by Cys/FeSO 4 in vitro.