Sulfated fucans extracted from algae Padina gymnospora have anti-inflammatory effect

Sulfated polysaccharides were extracted with acetone from brown algae Padina gymnospora. The fraction precipitated with 1.5 volumes of acetone (F1.5) purified in Sephadex G-75 was characterized by infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance of 13C and ¹H, through which the presence of sulfate groups on the C4 of α-L-fucose could be observed. This polysaccharide showed that an MW of 25,000 Da was effective in reducing leukocyte influx into the peritoneal cavity in mice at 10 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg body weight, causing a decrease of 60 and 39 percent, respectively. In the present study, it was observed that this fucan has anti-inflammatory properties but no cytotoxic action, indicating its potential use in the pharmaceutical industry.

Polysaccharides from the fungus Scleroderma nitidum with anti-inflammatory potential modulate cytokine levels and the expression of Nuclear Factor kB

Several pharmacological properties are attributed to polysaccharides and glucans derived from fungi such as tumor, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activity. In this work, the anti-inflammatory potential of polysaccharides from the fungus Scleroderma nitidum and their possible action mechanism were studied. The effect of these polymers on the inflammatory process was tested using the carrageenan and histamine-induced paw edema model and the sodium thioglycolate and zymosan-induced model. The polysaccharides from S. nitidum were effective in reducing edema (73 percent at 50 mg/kg) and cell infiltrate (37 percent at 10 mg/kg) in both inflammation models tested. Nitric oxide, a mediator in the inflammatory process, showed a reduction of around 26 percent at 10 mg/kg of body weight. Analysis of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines showed that in the groups treated with polysaccharides from S. nitidum there was an increase in cytokines such as IL-1ra, IL-10, and MIP-1β concomitant with the decrease in INF-γ (75 percent) and IL-2 (22 percent). We observed the influence of polysaccharides on the modulation of the expression of nuclear factor κB. This compound reduced the expression of NF-κB by up to 64 percent. The results obtained suggest that NF-κB modulation an mechanisms that explain the anti-inflammatory effect of polysaccharides from the fungus S. nitidum.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of polysaccharides from Lobophora variegata on zymosan-induced arthritis in rats.

This study analyzes the action of sulfated polysaccharides, fucans, from algae Lobophora variegata on zymosan-induced arthritis in rats. Groups of fucans, obtained after acetone fractionation (0.3-2.0 volumes), were denominated F0.3, F0.5, F0.8, F1, F1.5, and F2. The results that F1 contained a high yield in relation to other fractionated fucans. Chemical and structure analysis of F1 was performed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared (IR) spectroscopies. The in vitro antioxidant activities of the fraction F1 were also observed. Thus, 2 mg/mL of F1 inhibited the phosphomolybdate in the total antioxidant activity assay. The EC(50) values were 0.3 mg/mL and 0.12 mg/mL for superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, respectively. Fucan F1 (25, 50, and 75 mg/kg by body weight), diclofenac sodium (10 mg/kg), and L-NAME (25 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) in rats, according to body weight of different groups of animals (n=6). After 6 h, analyses of cell influx and nitrite levels were conducted. Then after 96 h, analysis of edema and concentration of serum TNF-α was carried out along with histopathological analysis. F1 at 25, 50, and 75 mg/kg i.p. by body weight reduced cell influx in 52.1-96.7% and nitric oxide level in 27.2-39% compared with the control group. The reduction of edema and serum TNF-α was observed at 50 mg/kg i.p. (p<0.001). These results suggest that this heterofucan from the brown algae L. variegata has potential anti-inflammatory activity in acute zymosan-induced arthritis in rats and that antioxidant activity promotes modulation in the cellular redox state.

Glucans from the Caripia montagnei mushroom present anti-inflammatory activity.

Caripia montagnei is a basidiomycete species which contains polysaccharides with immunomodulatory properties. An extract of this mushroom underwent removal of the fat content by organic solvent and subsequently proteolysis. The aqueous phase obtained after proteolysis was precipitated with methanol yielding a fraction containing carbohydrates (98.7+/-3.3%) and protein (1.3+/-0.25%). Chemical analysis, infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) showed that the carbohydrate fraction contained (63.3+/-4.1) of beta-glucans and proteins (2.2+/-0.3%). These glucans (50mg/kg of body weight) significantly reduced the inflammatory infiltrate produced by thioglycolate-induced peritonitis by 75.5+/-5.2%, when compared to Wy-14643 (60.3+/-6.1%), PFOA (37.8+/-2.8%) and clofibrate (52.2+/-3.2%), p<0.001, which are of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR-alpha). L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, reduced the plantar edema in Wistar rats by 91.4+/-1.3% (p<0.001). A significant reduction in nitric oxide (NO) levels was observed in the exudates when the glucans was used in comparison to carrageenan. The C. montagnei glucans did not present signs of inducing cytotoxicity. A decrease in IL-1ra, IL-10 and IFN-gamma in the peritonitis model was observed. Thus, the results suggest that glucans from the C. montagnei mushroom is an effective immunomodulator and may have potential for anti-inflammatory properties.