Relationship between sulfate groups and biological activities of fucans

The anticoagulant and antiproliferative effects of low molecular weight fuc ans with different sulfate content were examined. The anticoagulant activit y was determined by activated partial thromboplastin time and the antiproli ferative one was achieved in vitro on CCL39 fibroblast cell line. The resul ts showed that inhibitory effects of fucans on both coagulation and cell pr oliferation are dependent on their sulfation degree. Decreased sulfation di minishes the two activities not in the same manner: some low molecular weig ht fucan fractions with no anticoagulant activity retain their ability to i nhibit cell growth. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.