title: Spirulan from blue-green algae inhibits fibrin and blood clots: its potent antithrombotic effects.
abstract: We investigated in vitro and in vivo fibrinolytic and antithrombotic activity of spirulan and analyzed its partial biochemical properties. Spirulan, a sulfated polysaccharide from the blue-green alga Arthrospira platensis, exhibits antithrombotic potency. Spirulan showed a strong fibrin zymogram lysis band corresponding to its molecular mass. It specifically cleaved Aα and Bβ, the major chains of fibrinogen. Spirulan directly decreased the activity of thrombin and factor X activated (FXa), procoagulant proteins. In vitro assays using human fibrin and mouse blood clots showed fibrinolytic and hemolytic activities of spirulan. Spirulan (2 mg/kg) showed antithrombotic effects in the ferric chloride (FeCl3 )-induced carotid arterial thrombus model and collagen and epinephrine-induced pulmonary thromboembolism mouse model. These results may be attributable to the prevention of thrombus formation and partial lysis of thrombus. Therefore, we suggest that spirulan may be a potential antithrombotic agent for thrombosis-related diseases.
authors: Department of Life Science, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Republic of Korea. sjbkim@chosun.ac.kr.
authors: Jun-Hui
authors: JH
authors: Choi
authors: Seung
authors: S
authors: Kim
authors: Sung-Jun
authors: SJ
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000737:chemistry; D005337:Fibrin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D011134:Polysaccharides; C102617:spirulan; D005337:Fibrin; D005340:Fibrinogen
keywords: Arthrospira platensis; Fibrinolytic activity; Spirulan; anti-procoagulant protein activity; antithrombotic activity