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The present study aimed to clarify the potential mechanism of fucoidans found in Ascophyllum nodosum on anti-inflammation and to further explore the relationship between their structures and anti-inflammation. Two novel fucoidans named ANP-6 and ANP-7 and found in A. nodosum, were separated and purified and their structures were elucidated by HPGPC, HPLC, GC-MS, FT-IR, NMR, and by the Congo red test. They both possessed a backbone constructed of →2)-α-L-Fucp4S-(1→, →3)-α-L-Fucp2S4S-(1→, →6)-β-D-Galp-(1→, and →3,6)-β-D-Galp4S-(1→ with branches of →2)-α-L-Fucp4S-(1→ and →3)-β-D-Galp-(1→. Moreover, ANP-6 and ANP-7 could prevent the inflammation of the LPS-stimulated macrophages by suppressing the NO production and by regulating the expressions of iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10. Their inhibitory effects on the TLR-2 and TLR-4 levels suggest that they inhibit the inflammation process via the blocking of the TLR/NF-κB signal transduction. In addition, ANP-6, with a molecular weight (63.2 kDa), exhibited stronger anti-inflammatory capabilities than ANP-7 (124.5 kDa), thereby indicating that the molecular weight has an influence on the anti-inflammatory effects of fucoidans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is widely known for its various biological activities which are closely related to the sulfate substitution and the molecular weight. Effective degradation methods without striping sulfate groups are in a need. In the present study, a photocatalytic degradation method using H 2 O 2 and TiO 2 has been developed and it could decrease the average molecular weight of CS into 5 kDa within 6 h. The chemical composition of CS before and after degradation were compared by FT-IR, NMR, etc. , and no removement of sulfate group was observed. Then the identification of the oligosaccharides in the degradation product by mass spectroscopy revealed that glucuronic acid or its derivative, arabinuronic acid, was at most of the reducing ends, and the depolymerization mechanism was proposed. Furthermore, the absorption of CS in rats was enhanced by the degradation while the excertion profile of the degradation product was similar to that of CS. [Display omitted] • A photocatalytic method is developed for chondroitin sulfate (CS) degradation. • It could depolymerize CS to 5 kDa within 6 h without stripping sulfate groups. • Most of oligosaccharide have glucuronic acid or its derivative at reducing ends. • Gut microbiota metabolize CS and its degradation product (3 kDa) at a similar level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]