Enzyme-assisted hydrolysis is frequently used as a cost-effective and efficient method to obtain functional ingredients from bioresources. This study involved the enzyme-assisted hydrolyzation and purification of fucoidan from Ecklonia maxima stipe and the investigation of its anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Fucoidans of Viscozyme-assisted hydrolysate from E. maxima (EMSFs) harvested in Jeju, Korea. Structural and chemical characterizations were

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... rformed using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and monosaccharide analysis. Among fucoidans, EMSF6 was rich in fucose and sulfate and had a similar structural character to commercial fucoidan. EMSF6 showed a strong inhibitory effect on nitric oxide generation in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells and significantly decreased the production of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor α. The anti-inflammatory potential of EMSF6 was mediated through the downregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression. Thus, fucoidans from E. maxima stipe are promising candidates for functional food products.