title: Sulfated polysaccharides in marine sponges: extraction methods and anti-HIV activity.
abstract: The extraction, fractionation and HIV-1 inhibition potential of polysaccharides extracted from three species of marine sponges, Erylus discophorus, Cliona celata and Stelletta sp., collected in the Northeastern Atlantic, is presented in this work. The anti-HIV activity of 23 polysaccharide pellets and three crude extracts was tested. Crude extracts prepared from Erylus discophorus specimens were all highly active against HIV-1 (90 to 95% inhibition). Cliona celata pellets showed low polysaccharide content (bellow 38.5%) and almost no anti-HIV activity (<10% inhibition). Stelletta sp. pellets, although quite rich in polysaccharide (up to 97.3%), showed only modest bioactivity (<36% HIV-1 inhibition). Erylus discophorus pellets were among the richest in terms of polysaccharide content (up to 98%) and the most active against HIV-1 (up to 95% inhibition). Chromatographic fractionation of the polysaccharide pellet obtained from a specimen of Erylus discophorus (B161) yielded only modestly active fractions. However, we could infer that the active molecule is most probably a high molecular weight sulfated polysaccharide (>2000 kDa), whose mechanism is possibly preventing viral attachment and entry (fusion inhibitor).
authors.affiliation: Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal. aidsesteves@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ana I S
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Esteves
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nicolai
authors.forename: Madalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Humanes
authors.forename: Joao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goncalves
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000737:chemistry; D055808:Drug Discovery; D023581:HIV Fusion Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011161:Porifera / Q000737:chemistry*; D013431:Sulfates / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D023581:HIV Fusion Inhibitors; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013431:Sulfates