Oral administration of dermatan sulphate reduces venous thrombus formation in vivo: potential use as a formulation for venous thromboembolism.

Dermatan sulphate (DS) is a sulphated polysaccharide that displays complexity in constituent sulphated disaccharides and interacts with proteins and signalling molecules to modulate numerous biological processes, including inhibition of the coagulation cascade and regulation of blood clotting and fibrinolysis. This study shows the antithrombotic and anticoagulant effects of DS prepared from bovine collagen waste liquor following oral and intravenous administrations in a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) rabbit model. In vitro, the prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin citrated plasma clotting assays revealed that bovine DS had strong antithrombotic and anticoagulant effects comparable to low-molecular-weight heparin [Clexane (enoxaparin sodium)].

Effect of glycomacropeptide fractions on cholecystokinin and food intake.

Glycomacropeptide (GMP) is the hydrophilic 64-amino acid C-terminal glycopeptide released into cheese whey when kappa-casein is cleaved by chymosin. GMP exists as a mixture of different glycoforms due to the carbohydrates sialic acid (N-acetylneuraminic acid, NeuNAc), galactose (Gal), galactosamine and glucosamine attached by O-glycosidic linkages. GMP reportedly stimulates the release of cholecystokinin (CCK), which may promote satiety.

Antithrombin activity and disaccharide composition of dermatan sulfate from different bovine tissues.

Dermatan sulfate is a glycosaminoglycan that selectively inhibits the action of thrombin through interaction with heparin cofactor II. Unlike heparin it does not interact with other coagulation factors and is able to inhibit thrombin associated with clots. This property has made dermatan sulfate an attractive candidate as an antithrombotic drug.