Inhibitory Effect of Mozuku Seaweed-Derived Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Fucoidan on the Growth of Indigenous Skin Bacteria

This study investigated the effects of ultra-high-molecular-weight fucoidan (1700 kDa) derived from Tongan and Amami mozuku seaweeds on various bacteria. The fucoidan inhibited the growth of skin bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis but did not affect Cutibacterium acnes or general bacteria like Lactobacillus casei, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis. These findings suggest that mozuku-derived fucoidan could be useful in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products for targeting skin disease-causing bacteria.