title: Isolation and characterization of a sulfated polysaccharide from the brown alga Sargassum patens and determination of its anti-herpes activity.
abstract: Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the hot water extract from the brown alga Sargassun patens led to the isolation of a polysaccharide as an antiviral component against herpes simplex viruses which are the cause of cold sores (HSV-1) and genital herpes (HSV-2). The polysaccharide contained a sulfur group that could be present as a sulfate ester. It is thus a sulfated polysaccharide with a molecular mass of about 424 kDa, and is designated SP-2a. Gas chromatographic assay showed that the polysaccharide consisted of fucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, glucose, and galactosamine. The fucose is the major constituent sugar (35.3%), followed by galactose (18.4%). The 50% effective concentration (EC50) against HSV-2, HSV-1, and HSV-1 acyclovir resistant strain was 1.3, 5.5, and 4.1 microg/mL, respectively. The 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) of SP-2a on the growth of normal Vero cell line was more than 4000 microg/mL. Therefore SP-2a of S. patens may be a potent agent for treating HSV infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Vincent E C
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Ooi
authors.forename: Paul K S
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Put O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Ang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D000459:Phaeophyceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D013431:Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014709:Vero Cells
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013431:Sulfates