4-O-Sulfation in sea cucumber fucodians contribute to reversing dyslipidiaemia caused by HFD

Fucodians extracted from sea cucumbers (SC-FUCs) possess linear chains with uniform repeating units. Sulfation patterns endow SC-FUCs unique structures and bioactivity. The present study investigated the anti-hyperlipidemic activity of two fucodians isolated from sea cucumbers Pearsonothuria graeffei (fuc-Pg) and Isostichopus badionotus (fuc-Ib). The results indicate fuc-Pg dominated with a 4-O-sulfation pattern shows strong activity in reducing body weight, regulating lipid disorder (TC, TG, HLD-C, and LDL-C level), improving liver function (liver weight, GOP, GPT, and TBA concentrations) and increasing adiponectin level (adiponectin concentration) caused by HFD. However, fuc-Ib dominated with a 2-O-sulfation pattern has only moderate effects. These results suggest that different sulfation pattern may contribute to the differences in the hyperlipidemic activities. Further analysis by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis indicate that Fuc-Pg can suppress the expression of CD 36, increase the level of PPARα and decrease the level of CYP7A1, thus, the transportation of fatty acids into liver tissue and lipid metabolism, while fuc-Ib had only limited effects. Our results indicated the sulfation pattern may contribute to anti-hyperlipidemic activity of fucodian, and fuc-Pg dominated with 4-O-sulfation shows better effect and could be further developed as a potential anti-hyperlipidemic food supplement.