Evaluation of the activity profile of the sulfated polysaccharides extracted from the red alga Delesseria sanguinea (Hudson) Lamouroux

• Published in: Planta Medica
• Main Authors: Groth, I, Alban, S
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English; German
• Published: 28.08.2007
• ISSN: 0032-0943; 1439-0221
• DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-986746

Delesseria sanguinea (D.s.), a red alga occurring in the Baltic Sea, contains sulfated polysaccharides (SP). As known from heparin, SP exhibit not only anticoagulant, but a wide range of biological activities. The aim of the study was to examine the activity profile of these alga-derived SP (D.s.-SP). The D.s.-SP were obtained by a standardised water-extraction procedure. By performing the extraction with 13 algae batches harvested over two years, the D.s.-SP were shown to be of reproducible quality. The biological effects of D.s.-SP were compared with unfractionated heparin (UFH) in various in vitro test systems recording relevant steps within the (patho-)physiological network of inflammation, metastasis, and haemostasis: (1) elastase- and (2) hyaluronidase activity assays, (3) haemolytic complement modulation assay (CMA), further the coagulation assays (4) APTT and (5) thrombin time (TT), and finally, the cytotoxicity assays (6) MTT and (7) LDH. All tests were performed at least three times on different days. Compared to UFH, the D.s.-SP revealed to be superior in all the assays except for APTT and TT. The corresponding IC50 and concentration for doubling the coagulation time in APTT and TT (mean±SD [µg/ml]) were: Elastase Hyaluronidase CMA APTT TT UFH 0.272±0.015 12.1±2.87 8.15±5.05 1.03±0.05 0.58±0.03 D.s.-SP (n=13) 0.223±0.033 3.40±0.65 0.061±0.051 5.62±1.26 4.59±0.91 Cytotoxicity studies with tumour and human blood cells showed no negative effects on cell viability. Regarding the selected effects discussed to contribute to anti-inflammatory and antimetastatic activity (1–4) the D.s.-SP were shown to be superior to UFH. In contrast, they were less anticoagulant which may indicate a reduced risk to induce bleeding. Acknowledgements: This project is financed by the EU (FIAF/EFF) and the LFALF Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.