Kyushu University Confirms HORIUCHI L-FUCOIDAN Inhibits Binding between ACE2 and Virus Spike Protein (Derived from COVID-19)

KURUME,Japan,Feb. 26,2021 -- FCC Horiuchi Co.,Ltd. based in Kurume City,Fukuoka Prefecture,western Japan,has conducted an experiment in inhibiting binding between ACE2 and virus spike protein using HORIUCHI L-FUCOIDAN,manufactured by the company,in collaboration with a graduate school of Kyushu University (Associate Professor Kuniyoshi Shimizu of Division of Sustainable Bioresources Science,Department of Agro-Environmental Sciences,Faculty of Agriculture).

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme II (ACE2) provides a foothold when COVID-19 and SARS viruses enter human cells. If the binding of viral spike protein to ACE2 can be inhibited,viruses cannot enter human cells,and so the protective effect against COVID-19 can be expected.

Figures courtesy of Kyushu University: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M106468/202102241391/_prw_PI3fl_ZgqrfeqJ.jpg

Originally,fucoidan is a high-molecular-weight polysaccharide,but HORIUCHI L-FUCOIDAN is a low-molecular-weight fucoidan which is composed of 500 or less molecular weight by the company's original technique. To evaluate whether fucoidan inhibits the binding of ACE2-virus spike protein,a kit containing ACE2 and coronavirus spike protein was used. L-FUCOIDAN or H-FUCOIDAN (high molecular weight) was incubated together with ACE2 and virus spike protein and the binding inhibition activity was measured.

L-FUCOIDAN showed approximately 100% ACE2-virus spike protein binding inhibition activity at 1.15 mg/mL (left side of the figure below). On the other hand,H-FUCOIDAN (high molecular weight) showed about 20 to 30% of binding inhibition activity in all the tested concentrations. It did not show as much inhibition activity as L-FUCOIDAN (right side of the figure below).

Figures: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M106468/202102241391/_prw_PI2fl_xq4Wd4gE.jpg

*Data courtesy of Kyushu University.

This suggests that HORIUCHI L-FUCOIDAN can be expected to have a preventive effect against COVID-19.

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