title: Antileukemic activity of Viva-Natural, a dietary seaweed extract, on Rauscher murine leukemia in comparison with anti-HIV agents, azidothymidine, dextran sulfate and pentosan polysulfate.
abstract: An antileukemic activity of partially purified polysaccharide of an edible seaweed. Viva-Natural, against Rauscher murine retrovirus-induced erythroleukemia has been demonstrated. This antileukemic effect is compared with standard anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) agents, azidothymidine (AZT), dextran sulfate and pentosan polysulfate. Pretreatment with Viva-Natural, as an immunomodulator, on day 3 prior to the virus inoculation demonstrated definite prophylactic activity, while pretreatment with the other three anti-HIV agents showed no prophylactic activity. The replication of Rauscher virus in BALB/3T3 cell cultures accompanied by direct cytopathic effect (syncytia formation) was suppressed in the presence of Viva-Natural or the other anti-HIV agents in the culture medium. In spite of the antiviral potentials of the four agents in vitro, only Viva-Natural and AZT demonstrated therapeutic efficacy against Rauscher leukemia in mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu 96822.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Furusawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Furusawa
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002460:Cell Line; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000187:drug effects; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010426:Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011925:Rauscher Virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D012624:Seaweed; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000517:prevention & control; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010426:Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester; D015215:Zidovudine; D016264:Dextran Sulfate