Use of an in vitro model of hepatic steatosis for studying the anti-oxidant and antisteatotic effects of fucoidan polysaccharides

Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is characterised by fat accumulation in hepatocytes in the form of triacyglycerols (TAGs) within cytosolic lipid droplets. Fucoidans (FUs) are biologically active polysaccharides usually isolated from brown marine algae, but recently identified also in terrestrial plants. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti-oxidant and anti-steatotic effects of FUs purified from C. compressa, F. hermonis, and E. globulus. To this aim, we used a validated NAFLD in vitro model consisting of rat hepatoma FaO cells exposed to an oleate/palmitate mixture. Such a model is suitable for rapid investigation of direct effects of natural and artificial compounds, together with satisfying the strategy of 3Rs for laboratory use of animals. Our results indicated that all FUs display anti-oxidant and anti-steatotic activities. Steatotic FaO cells may be employed to further study the biological effects of FUs.