Properties of polysaccharides in several seaweeds from Atlantic Canada and their potential anti-influenza viral activities

Abstract

Objective: To explore the polysaccharides from selected seaweeds of Atlantic Canada and to evaluate their potential anti-influenza virus activities. Methods: Polysaccharides were isolated from several Atlantic Canadian seaweeds, including three red algae (Polysiphonia lanosa, Furcellaria lumbricalis, and Palmaria palmata), two brown algae (Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus), and one green alga (Ulva lactuca) by sequential extraction with cold water, hot water, and different alkali solutions. These polysaccharides were analyzed for monosaccharide composition and other general  First author: Guangling Jiao, Ph.D candidate, Glycochemistry and glycobiology, Email: sebrina2006@gmail.com;  Corresponding author: Guangli Yu, Professor, Glycochemistry and glycobiology, E-Mail: glyu@ouc.edu.cn. chemical properties, and they were evaluated for anti-influenza virus activities. Results:Total sugar contents in these polysaccharides ranged from 15.4 % (in U. lactuca) to 91.4 % (in F. lumbricalis); sulfation level was as high as 17.6 % in a polysaccharide from U. lactuca whereas it couldn't be detected in an alikali-extract from P. palmaria. For polysaccharides extracted from red seaweeds, the main polysaccharides were sulfated agar and carrageenan for P. lanosa, F. lumbricalis, and xylans for P. palmata. In brown seaweeds, the polysaccharides mainly contained sulfated fucans, whereas the polysaccharides in green seaweeds were composed of heteroglycuronans. Screening for antiviral activity against influenza A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) virus revealed that brown algal polysaccharides were particularly effective. Conclusion: Seaweeds from Atlantic Canada are a good source of marine polysaccharides with potential antiviral properties.

The Antiviral Activities and Mechanisms of Marine Polysaccharides: An Overview

“…Marine polysaccharides usually exhibit structural features such as sulfate and uronic acid groups, which distinguish them from polysaccharides of terrestrial plants, but are similar to mammalian glycosaminoglycans, such as heparin and chondroitin sulfate [3]. Marine polysaccharides can be classified into three main types: marine animal polysaccharides, marine plant polysaccharides, and marine microbial polysaccharides according to their different sources, and each have different structure features.…”

Overview on Biological Activities and Molecular Characteristics of Sulfated Polysaccharides from Marine Green Algae in Recent Years

“…Unfortunately, the SPs of green seaweeds are structurally diverse and heterogeneous [31,32], which makes studies on their structures challenging and hinders their development as therapeutic agents [33]. The production of a standardized commercial product based on green algal SP constituents is expected to be a significant endeavor because the structural and pharmacological features of these components may vary according to the species and location and time of harvest [34,35,36,37,38]. …”

Extraction, fractionation, and chemical characterisation of fucoidans from the brown seaweed Sargassum pallidum

“…These pretreated samples were stored in a cool and dry environment for later use. The polysaccharides from the brown seaweed S. pallidum were extracted following the method of Jiao with modifications (Jiao et al 2012). The dried frond of S. pallidum (500.0 g) was ground and sieved (10 mesh) to obtain a fine powder.…”