title: In vivo macrophage-stimulation activity of the enzyme-degraded water-soluble polysaccharide fraction from a marine alga (Gracilaria verrucosa).
abstract: The water-soluble polysaccharide fraction from Gracilaria verrucosa (GWS) has been reported to increase the phagocytic activity of mice [Yoshizawa et al., Nippon Shokuhin Kogyo Gakkaishi, 41, 557-560 (1994)]. In this study, the macrophage-stimulation activity of enzyme-degraded GWS (GWS-E) was investigated by intraperitoneally and orally administering GWS-E to mice. The intraperitoneal administration of GWS-E increased the number of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC), and increased the phagocytic activity and oxygen radical-secreting activity (spontaneous chemiluminescence) of PEC. This administration could also stimulate splenic macrophages (SPM), increasing radical-secreting activity. When GWS-E was administered orally, the radical-secreting activity of PEC and SPM increased. In this case of oral administration, the activity of SPM increased in a dose-dependent manner, while that of PEC had an optimum dose. These results indicate that GWS-E had macrophage-stimulation activity in vivo and would be suitable as a source for a physiologically functional food with protective and immunopotentiating activity.
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Center, Showa Sangyo Co., Ltd., Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshizawa
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tsunehiro
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fukui
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ametani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaminogawa
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D005260:Female; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000201:enzymology*; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; D014867:Water; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; C019624:agarase