Fucoidan and Fucosylated Chondroitin Sulfate Stimulate Hematopoiesis in Cyclophosphamide-Induced Mice.

Application of cytostatics in cancer patients' chemotherapy results in a number of side effects, including the inhibition of various parts of hematopoiesis. Two sulfated polysaccharides, fucoidan from the seaweed () and fucosylated chondroitin sulfate from the sea cucumber (), were studied as stimulators of hematopoiesis after cyclophosphamide immunosuppression in mice. Recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor () was applied as a reference. Both tested polysaccharides and have a similar activity to , causing pronounced neutropoiesis stimulation in animals with myelosuppression induced by cyclophosphamide (). Moreover, these compounds are also capable to enhance thrombopoiesis and erythropoiesis. It should be noted that demonstrated a greater activity than . The results indicate the perspective of further studies of and , since these compounds can be considered as potentially promising stimulators of hematopoiesis. Such drugs are in demand for the accompanying treatment of cancer patients who suffer from hematological toxicity during chemo and/or radiation therapy.