Fucoidan
/fuːˈkɔɪdən/noun
A complex sulfated polysaccharide found mainly in the cell walls of brown seaweeds.
Did you know?Fucoidan’s name ultimately connects it with Latin fucus, a seaweed associated historically with reddish-purple coloring and cosmetic pigment.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
φῦκος (phŷkos)
“Seaweed, especially a kind used for pigment or dye”
Classical Latin
Latin
fūcus
“Seaweed; also a reddish cosmetic pigment or rouge”
18th Century
English
fucus
“A genus of brown seaweeds, adopted as a scientific botanical name”
Early 20th Century
Japanese scientific usage
fucoidan
“A polysaccharide substance obtained from brown algae”
Modern English
English
fucoidan
“A sulfated polysaccharide occurring primarily in brown seaweeds”