Anti-inflammatory and angiogenic activity of polysaccharide extract obtained from Tibetan kefir.

The search for new bioactive molecules is a driving force for research pharmaceutical industries, especially those molecules obtained from fermentation. The molecules possessing angiogenic and anti-inflammatory attributes have attracted attention and are the focus of this study. Angiogenic activity from kefir polysaccharide extract, via chorioallantoic membrane assay, exhibited a pro-angiogenic effect compared with vascular endothelial factor (pro-angiogenic) and hydrocortisone (anti-angiogenic) activity as standards with an EC50 of 192ng/mL.

Galactans from Cryptonemia species. Part II: studies on the system of galactans of Cryptonemia seminervis (Halymeniales) and on the structure of major fractions.

Cryptonemia seminervis biosynthesizes a family of D,L-hybrid galactans based on the classical 3-linked beta-D-galactopyranosyl-->4-linked alpha-D- and alpha-L-galactopyranosyl alternating sequence (A-units-->B-units) with major amounts of alpha-D- and alpha-L-galactose and 3,6-anhydro-D- and L-galactose and lesser percentages of 3,6-anhydro-2-O-methyl-L-galactose, 2-O-methyl-, 4-O-methyl- and 6-O-methylgalactoses. The dispersion of structures in this family is based on five structural factors, namely: (a) the amount and position of substituent groups as sulfate (major), pyruvic acid ketals, methoxyl and glycosyl side-chain (4-O-methyl galactopyranosyl and/or xylosyl); (b) the ratio galactose/3,6-anhydrogalactose in the B-units; (c) the ratio D,L-galactoses and D,L-3,6-anhydrogalactoses also in the B-units, (d) the formation of diads and (e) the sequence of the diads in the linear backbone. Considering these variables it is not unexpected to find in the fractions studied at least 18 structural units producing highly complex structures.

Sulfated xylomannans isolated from red seaweeds Chondrophycus papillosus and C. flagelliferus (Ceramiales) from Brazil.

Sulfated xylomannans were isolated from two species of genus Chondrophycus by aqueous extraction followed by KCl fractionation. Structural determination of the native, desulfated and Smith-degraded KCl-precipitated polysaccharides carried out by composition and methylation analysis and NMR spectroscopy (1D and 2D experiments) showed the following general structure: [see text] These xylomannans present different degrees of branching (15-25%) by beta-D-Xylp (70-80%) and beta-D-Manp-2-S (20-30%) and molecular weights (33-222kDa). This is the first report of the presence of a sulfated xylomannan in species of order Ceramiales.

The system of galactans from Cryptonemia crenulata (Halymeniaceae, Halymeniales) and the structure of two major fractions. Kinetic studies on the alkaline cyclization of the unusual diad G2S-->D(L)6S.

Cryptonemia crenulata biosynthesizes a family of dl-hybrid galactans that are based on the classical 3-linked beta-d-galactopyranosyl-->4-linked alpha-galactopyranosyl alternating sequence (A-units-->B-units). The dispersion of structures in these galactans is based on four factors, namely: (a) the amount and position of substituent groups as sulfate (major), pyruvic acid ketals, methoxyl and side substituents of beta-D-xylose and/or beta-D-galactose; (b) the ratio galactose/3,6-anhydrogalactose in the B-units; (c) the ratio D-/L-galactoses and 3,6-anhydrogalactoses also in the B-units and (d) the sequence of the diads in the linear backbone. Alkali treatment carried out on the major fraction produced a nearly quantitative formation of 3,6-anhydrogalactose units from precursor units (alpha-galactose 6-sulfate (major) and alpha-galactose 2,6-sulfate, minor).

Anti-herpes simplex virus activity of sulfated galactans from the red seaweeds Gymnogongrus griffithsiae and Cryptonemia crenulata.

This study presents the chemical composition and antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) of sulfated galactan crude extracts and main fractions obtained from two red seaweeds collected in Brazil, Gymnogongrus griffithsiae and Cryptonemia crenulata. Most of the eighteen tested products, including homogeneous kappa/iota/nu carrageenan and DL-galactan hybrid, exhibited antiherpetic activity with inhibitory concentration 50% (IC50) values in the range 0.5-5.