RESUMO
The aim of this work was to study the effect of Halymenia floresia (Hf) on duodenum contractility, and on experimental protocols of gastric compliance (GC) in rats. Fraction Hf2s exhibited a concentration-dependent myocontractile effect (EC50 12.48 µg/ml), and an inhibitory effect after consecutive washing. The contractile response promoted by Hf2s in the duodenum strips was completely inhibited by verapamil, and the effects were prevented in the presence of Ca2+-free medium. The pretreatment with atropine prevented the Hf2s myocontractile effect. Hf2s was also capable to decrease the GC (from 3.8±0.06 to 3.4±0.13 ml, P<0.05), which did not return to basal levels after more 50 min of observation. These results indicated that the algal polysaccharide possessed in vitro and in vivo gastrointestinal effects.
RESUMO
Alternative sources of anticoagulants have arisen as a result of the increasing demand for safer anticoagulant clinical therapy, and the sulfated polysaccharides of seaweeds have gained attention in biomedicine. In this study, crude sulfated polysaccharide fractions (denominated Hf1, Hf2 and Hf3) were obtained from the red marine alga Halymenia floresia and the anticoagulant properties of a soluble crude polysaccharide fraction (Hf2s) were assayed. The three differential extractions yielded 38.6%. The polysaccharides are composed mainly of galactose, with small amounts of xylose and glucose. The anticoagulant properties of Hf2s containing 53.8% sulfate and 3% protein was also compared to those of heparin (193.0 IU mg-1) by assays of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and thrombin time (TT) using normal human plasma. Hf2s showed a higher anticoagulant activity (68.4 IU mg-1) than those of Hf1s and Hf3s, whose activities were 37.6 and 36.6 IU mg-1, respectively. The compound was less active than heparin, but its anticoagulant mechanism suggested that it is dependent on cofactor heparin II to inhibit thrombin activity, but not on cofactors VIII and IX. Therefore, the polysaccharide from H. floresia interfered on coagulation cascade.
O aumento da demanda por anticoagulantes para a terapia clínica tem motivado a busca por fontes alternativas de anticoagulantes mais seguros e os polissacarídeos sulfatados de algas marinhas têm ganhado atenção na biomedicina. Objetivou-se obter frações de polissacarídeos sulfatados brutos (denominadas Hf1; Hf2 e Hf3) da alga marinha vermelha Halymenia floresia e para avaliar as propriedades anticoagulantes de uma fração polissacarídica bruta solúvel anticoagulante (Hf2s). As três extrações diferenciais renderam 38,60%. Os polissacarídeos são principalmente compostos de galactose com pequenas quantidades de xilose e glucose. As propriedades anticoagulantes da Hf2s, contendo 53,80% de sulfato e 3% de proteínas, foram também comparadas com a heparina (193,00 UI mg-1) pelo ensaio do tempo de tromboplastina parcial ativada (TTPA) e tempo de trombina (TT), usando plasma humano normal. A Hf2s apresentou maior atividade anticoagulante (68,40 UI mg-1) que Hf1s a Hf3s, cujas atividades foram 37,60 e 36,60 UI mg-1, respectivamente. O composto foi menos ativo que a heparina, mas sugere-se que o mecanismo anticoagulante seja dependente do cofator II da heparina para inibição da atividade da trombina, exceto pelos cofatores VIII a IX. Portanto, o polissacarídeo de H. floresia interferiu na cascata de coagulação.
Assuntos
Polissacarídeos , Alga Marinha , Galactanos , AnticoagulantesRESUMO
Alternative sources of anticoagulants have arisen as a result of the increasing demand for safer anticoagulant clinical therapy, and the sulfated polysaccharides of seaweeds have gained attention in biomedicine. In this study, crude sulfated polysaccharide fractions (denominated Hf1, Hf2 and Hf3) were obtained from the red marine alga Halymenia floresia and the anticoagulant properties of a soluble crude polysaccharide fraction (Hf2s) were assayed. The three differential extractions yielded 38.6%. The polysaccharides are composed mainly of galactose, with small amounts of xylose and glucose. The anticoagulant properties of Hf2s containing 53.8% sulfate and 3% protein was also compared to those of heparin (193.0 IU mg-1) by assays of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and thrombin time (TT) using normal human plasma. Hf2s showed a higher anticoagulant activity (68.4 IU mg-1) than those of Hf1s and Hf3s, whose activities were 37.6 and 36.6 IU mg-1, respectively. The compound was less active than heparin, but its anticoagulant mechanism suggested that it is dependent on cofactor heparin II to inhibit thrombin activity, but not on cofactors VIII and IX. Therefore, the polysaccharide from H. floresia interfered on coagulation cascade.
Alternative sources of anticoagulants have arisen as a result of the increasing demand for safer anticoagulant clinical therapy, and the sulfated polysaccharides of seaweeds have gained attention in biomedicine. In this study, crude sulfated polysaccharide fractions (denominated Hf1, Hf2 and Hf3) were obtained from the red marine alga Halymenia floresia and the anticoagulant properties of a soluble crude polysaccharide fraction (Hf2s) were assayed. The three differential extractions yielded 38.6%. The polysaccharides are composed mainly of galactose, with small amounts of xylose and glucose. The anticoagulant properties of Hf2s containing 53.8% sulfate and 3% protein was also compared to those of heparin (193.0 IU mg-1) by assays of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and thrombin time (TT) using normal human plasma. Hf2s showed a higher anticoagulant activity (68.4 IU mg-1) than those of Hf1s and Hf3s, whose activities were 37.6 and 36.6 IU mg-1, respectively. The compound was less active than heparin, but its anticoagulant mechanism suggested that it is dependent on cofactor heparin II to inhibit thrombin activity, but not on cofactors VIII and IX. Therefore, the polysaccharide from H. floresia interfered on coagulation cascade.
RESUMO
Quassinoids neosergeolide and isobrucein B, obtained from Picrolemma sprucei, have proven in vitro antitumor, antimalarial, anthelminthic, cytotoxic, insecticide and leishmanicidal activities. There is interest in the in vivo pharmacological study of these natural compounds and their semi-synthetic derivatives, however, the quantities obtained in previous extraction processes have been shown to be a limiting factor for continuation of these studies. Herein, we describe a method for obtaining grams of these quassinoids whose purification relies only on recrystallization.
Os quassinóides neosergeolida e isobruceína B, obtidos de Picrolemma sprucei, possuem atividades antitumoral, antimalárica, anti-helmíntica, citotóxica, inseticida e anti-leishmania comprovadas em estudos in vitro. Há interesse no estudo farmacológico in vivo dessas substâncias naturais e de seus derivados semi-sintéticos, porém a quantidade obtida nos processos de extração tem se mostrado um fator limitante à continuação desses estudos. No presente trabalho, descrevemos um método para obtenção de gramas desses quassinóides cuja purificação depende apenas de cristalização fracionada.