A research team from Australia has found miraculous benefits of a common sea-weed that could potentially help against Influenza A cases. Using this sea-weed extract might help to reduce severe symptoms of the Influenza virus in patients.
This benefit is mainly due to “fucoidan”, a highly reactive biological compound naturally found in brown seaweed and is famous for its medicinal effects. Among many other effects, one of the best effects of fucoidan is that it reduces internal inflammation and prevents viral diseases.
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These effects were detected while testing the fucoidan in lab mice which were previously infected with the influenza A virus, also called H1N1. These results in mice show that fucoidan apparently causes a limitation to the consolidation process in the lungs. This lung consolidation is also a common side effect during severe viral infections. The recovery process from this lung damage is typically very long and exhausting. Also, an untreated condition might lead to permanent damage to lung tissues.
During this infection, the fluid fills inside the alveoli present in the lungs and causes a problem in conventional gaseous exchange. Trying to recover from such a severe type of lung infection takes months or even years.
This new study also reveals that the oral dosage of fucoidan is helpful to reduce the effects of Influenza A. These effects mainly mean the ‘clinical’ effects alone. Click here to read the complete study findings.
Fucoidan is a sub-type of polysaccharides that are naturally found in brown sea-weeds, bladderwrack, and seagrasses, and echinoderms. There is plenty of research to explain its anti-coagulant benefits, anti-tumor, anti-thrombotic and anti-oxidant effects. It has also proven to kill certain viruses but knowing its potential against Influenza A virus (H1N1) is new.
Fucoidan, once made a part of the human body through the oral route could initiate programmed cell death. It reduces the release of the three most important metalloproteinase enzymes named MMP1, MMP9, and MMp3.
Fucoidan which was used in this study was “Maritech(R) Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan” which is made by an Aussie biotechnology company called “Marinova Pty Ltd. Maritech(R) “. The sea-weed extracts from this company are then supplied to a number of leading pharmaceutical companies and nutritional product makers to use it in multiple health and wellness products.
The first author of this study and principal researcher of this experiment Dr. Helen Fitton from Marinova Pty Ltd says is excited about these results. She says that this study implies the anti-viral effect of fucoidan which is anyways a natural and risk-free product to heal severe lung damage.
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Marinova is a leading biotechnology company from Australia which is working to provide the premium quality and purest sea-weed mainly for the health sector. The research and development department of Marinova makes sure to manufacture products that are helpful in dietary, medicinal and even Dermalogical sectors.
Despite its potential to kill Influenza A virus (HIN1), there is still no certainty on its safety. Many experts believe that fucoidan could bring a number of side effects in its users which is why it is necessary to conduct a doctor before taking it. The clinical data on Fucoidan’s safety is limited however, there are no as such reports of it causing a sid effect.