5 million new sufferers are diagnosed annually[3]. Currently, there is no vaccine available for prevention of HCV infection due to the extreme sequence variability within the HCV genome. The first-line treatment for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) includes the combination 17-DMAG fda of pegylated ��-interferon (IFN) and ribavirin, a broad spectrum antiviral drug[4,5]. Although the reported HCV eradication rate by this combination therapy is 75%-90% for genotypes II and III and 45%-52% for genotypes I and IV[6], these rates are still far from ideal. Because of the high rate of nonresponders among those infected with genotype I, the predominant strain in Japan, and because antiviral treatment causes frequent, unpleasant and sometimes serious adverse effects[7], the establishment of a new treatment modality without serious adverse effects is desirable[8].

Considering the prolonged period (20-30 years) required for development of LC and HCC in individuals infected with HCV, progression of the disease might be influenced by nutritional status and diet. Although herbal supplements, including silymarin (an extract of milk thistle), are frequently used by patients with chronic liver diseases[9,10], the available scientific evidence for the beneficial effects of these supplements is limited[11]. However, administration of EH0202, a mixture of four herbal extracts, is reported to induce IFN activity and reduce HCV RNA levels in patients with high viral titers[12]. Furthermore, a recent study reported the hepatoprotective effect of birch bark extract in patients with CHC[13].

Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from marine brown seaweeds that possess some biological activities including anti-inflammatory properties[14,15]. Sulfated polysaccharides, including fucoidan, are also reported to inhibit the replication of viruses such as herpes simplex virus, Sindbis virus, human immunodeficiency virus, parainfluenza virus type II, and dengue virus[16-18]. We have also reported recently that oral administration of fucoidan for 12 mo resulted in 42.4% decrease in the human T-cell leukemia virus type I proviral load in patients with human T-cell leukemia virus type I-associated neurological disease[19]. Since fucoidan shows no toxicity or irritation in humans, it may be useful also as an anti-HCV agent. To our knowledge, there are no data on the anti-HCV effect of fucoidan.

In the present study, we examined the anti-HCV activity of fucoidan extracted from the marine alga, Cladosiphon okamuranus Tokida (C. okamuranus Tokida) cultivated in Okinawa, Japan. Our pilot study is the first clinical trial that investigated the effect of fucoidan in patients Anacetrapib with HCV-related chronic liver diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS Preparation of fucoidan from seaweed The unsalted brown seaweed C. okamuranus Tokida cultivated in Okinawa, Japan, was suspended in water, 0.