Natural polysaccharide carrageenan inhibits toxic effect of gram-negative bacterial endotoxins.

The protective effect of polysaccharide carrageenan on the damaging effect of endotoxins of gram-negative bacteria was studied in vivo and in vitro. Carrageenan increased mouse resistance to the toxic effect of LPS. The degree of protection depended on polysaccharide concentration and administration time and route. Pretreatment of donor platelets with carrageenan reduced their aggregation activity caused by cooperative effect of LPS and ADP.