FUCO (FUCUS VESICULOSUS L., F. SERRATUS L.)

	F
	FUCO
	*FUCUS VESICULOSUS L., F. SERRATUS L.*

Name
FUCO

Scientific Name
FUCUS VESICULOSUS L., F. SERRATUS L.

FUCO

Brown seaweed; alem.: Blasentang, Sägetang; ingl., common seawrach, seakelp.

Thallus

F. vesiculosus is an alga of brown-greenish thallus of frondes in foliáceas lamina form crossed by a central nerve in where are the aerocistos, globulose floaters who vertically maintain it in the water; in the apexes the reproductive organs crowd. This species pays attention to rocks submerged by means of pedículo that it has in the base. It is provided, in period of reproduction, unisexuados conceptáculos.

Origin

The fucos extend concretely in the cold seas of the globe in the mediolitoral zone: F. vesiculosus is concentrated in the level of the average tide; F. serratus, occupies lower zones, arriving until the low seas but from alive waters.

Chemical composition

The thalli of the fucos are rich in polioles: manitol, sorbitol [ 156 ] and in polisacáridos: fucoidano (polymeric ß1?2 of sulphated fucosa), laminarana (glucosana (ß-1?3)), mucopolisacárico "lectin like" [ 157 ] and, mainly, algina or algínico acid.

Algínico Acido

It is a linear polymer constituted by a-L-gulurónico acid and acid ß-D-manurónico with unions type ß-(1->4). In natural his foma is in form of one of salts (Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+) and can constitute 40% of the weight of the alga. The proportion of both acid and the sequences (poli-M, poli-G, poli-M, G) varies according to numerous factors (species, origin, organ, station, etc) [ 158 ]. Industrially the alginatos from several Feoficeas are prepared: Laminaria, Ascophyllum, Fucus...

Other compounds are described in the fucos: acrylic acid, carotenoid (ej.: fucoxantina), lipids, represented mainly by 159 phospholipids polar and glucolípidos [ ], esteroles [ 160 ], halogenous (iodine - 0.03% - bromine), derived gnawed from the benzilic alcohol, fenoles. These fenoles are floroglucinol (1,3,5-trihidroxi-benzene) and their oligómeros, which take of two to seven units preferredly united by bridges ether, more rarely by 161 bifenílicos bridges [ ]. Floroglucinol also is in polymer form [ 162 ].

Farmacológicos data

The algínico acid and the alginato of sodium form viscous, adherent gels, that reduce the acidity and assure a mechanical protection the gastric mucosa and form an obstacle to the esofágico ebb tide when floating on 163 the gastric content [ ]. The use of the alginato of sodium gives rise to the precipitation in situ of algínico acid and, in the presence of acid sodium carbonate, generous carbon dioxide gets up to the gel assuring the bouyancy this one. The alginato of calcium is hemostatic; he is inoffensive for the wounds and easily reasorbible.

Other properties of the Fuco are attributed to iodine. In case of hipotiroidismo and to "physiological" doses (ej. 60-100 µg/día) it is accepted that the iodine stimulates the thyroid whereas to "farmacológicas" doses the action is reversed like with the A.T.S. (antitiroideos synthetic): a blockade of the synthesis (inhibition of peroxidasa) and of the liberation of hormones takes place (inhibition of the tiroglobulina) [ 164 ].

The antimicrobial and antifúngica activity of the Fuco has been demonstrated in vitro.

Observations in the man

In case of gastric upheavals the effectiveness of the preparations with alginatos has been demonstrated clinically, seizures after the meals, and has been confirmed by 165 the endoscópico examination [ ]. Other 166 studies [ ] induce to think that the type of algínico acid (purity, sequence...) conditions the capacity tampon and viscosity and therefore, the therapeutic activity. For the treatment of the gastro-esofágico ebb tide, the alginatos can be associated to other medicamentosas substances (anti H2, accelerating of the gastric evacuation). Very good results with this treatment are obtained [ 163 ].

Use

Apparently the fucos lack toxicity (test of acute toxicity: 3g/kg, test of subacute toxicity: 300 and 600 mg/kg/día, criomolturado, rat, to per you) [ 170]. They are used in form pulverized to 2 doses from 0.5 to g/día, in case of tiroideo deficit, the treatment of the obesity and by its mechanical laxative activity. More recently, the fitoterapia uses these mineral fucos by the set of its vitamins and salts in the indication of fatigue states and asthenia. The cosmetología uses much these plants (gels, creams for massage) and, on the other hand, they comprise of the product composition numerous for the hygiene (bath, soaps, dentífricas pastes).

The use of the algina and alginatos in pharmacy is multiple: by its physiological properties (esofágico ebb tide, hernia of hiatus, pirosis, constipation, small hemorrhages), by their dietetic interest: saciantes products for the treatment of the obesity. Their physical properties cause that they are used in farmacotecnia (agregantes and disgregantes), odontolgy, dental molds, for pharmacy, agro-alimentary industry (gelificantes E400-405).

In Spain one authorizes the use of the drug in fatigue states and asthenia. Helping in diets of control of weight by its content in mucílagos that cause a diminution of the appetite and a slight laxative effect.

Precautions

Hipertiroidismo.

The drug

The fucos in dry state appear in blackish laminae of corneous consistency that include eflorescencias blanquecinas and, at intervals, small connected, hollow vesicles. Some branches of the thallus finish in elliptical conceptáculos. Diverse controls can be carried out: valuation of ashes, total iodine and iodine together with proteins... It agrees to indicate that the seaweed is able to concentrate heavy nonmetals (arsenic) and metals, the stable isotopes as well as the radioactive ones: CD, Ba, Pb, Mr., that is good indicators of contamination [ 167-169 ].

Bibliography

[ 156 ] M. QUILLET, V. IMHOFF and G. OF LESTANG.BREMOND

Sorbitol and sorbitol phosphate in Brown seaweeds

Phytochemistry, 24, 67-69, 1985.

[ 157 ] M.T. SERVANT and C.M. FERREIROS

Selective interaction of to Fucus vesiculosus lectin.like mucopolysaccharide with several Candida species.

Ann. Microbiol. (Inst. Pasteur), 134 To, 149-154, 1983.

[ 158 ] T.J. PAINTER

Algal polysaccharides. In: The polysaccharides, G.O. ASPINALL, ed., New York, Academic Press, 2, 195-285, 1983.

[ 159 ] K.L. SMITH and J.L. HARWOOD

Lipids and lipid metabolism in the Brown algae, Fucus serratus

Phytochemistry, 23, 2469-2473, 1984.

[ 160 ] A.M. ILIAS, W.E. CONNOR, D.S. LIN and M.U. AHMAD

Sterol composition of some seaweeds

Fette, Seifen, Anstrichmit., 87, 345-346, 1985.

[ 161 ] M.A. RAGAN and W.D. JAMIESON

Oligomeric polyphloroglucinols from Fucus vesiculosus: photoplate mass spectrometric investigation

Phytochemistry, 21, 2709-2711, 1982.

[ 162 ] M.A. RAGAN

Molecular The high weight polyphloroglucinols of the marine Brown algae Fucus vesiculosus L.: degradative analysis.

Dog J. Chem., 63, 294-303, 1985.

[ 163 ] R. COLIN, P.DENIS

Reflux gastro-oesophagien, (they entretien avec...)

Médecin, (3180), 42-50 -, 1984 quotidien du to him.

[ 164 ] P. SIMON

Pharmacologie, édition Marketing, Paris, 1982.

[ 165 ] G.P. RIGO, M.PERINI, M.GANDOLFO and To ANTONIOLI

Therapy delle escofagiti gives refluso. Efficacia of a preparato to base I gave acido alginico

Min. Diet. and Gastr., 25, 163-166, 1979.

[ 166 ] R. SELLERI, G. ORZALESI, F. MARI and E. BERTOL

Influenza of the type I gave acido alginico sull'attivita dei farmaci usati to per disturbi gastrici

Boll. Chim. Farm., 119, 41-51, 1980.

[ 167 ] To LIGNELL, G.M. ROOMANS and M. PEDERSEN

Localization of you absorb cadmium in Fucus vesiculosus L. by X-ray microanalysis

Z. Pflanzenphysiol., 105, 103-109, 1982.

[ 168 ] M.STOEPPLER, M. BUROW, F. BACKHAUS, W.SCHRAMM and H.W. NÜRNBERG

Arsenic in seawater and Brown algae on the baltic and the north is

Marine Chemistry, 18, 321-334, 1986.

[ 169 ] J.P. CULLINAME, T.M. DOYLE and P.M. WHELAN

Seaweeds uses of ace biomonitors of zinc levels in Cork harbour, Ireland. In: 12th international seaweed symposium, Sao Paulo 27-7/1-8-1986, M.A. RAGAN and C.J. BIRD, éds., Dordrecht, Dr W. Junk Publischers, p. 285-290, 1987.

Diseases in whose treatment this plant is adapted

Overweight

Gastritis

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