Atividades biológicas de uma fração polissacarídica sulfatada da alga marinha verde Caulerpa cupressoides var. lycopodium (Vahl) C. Agardh

Abstract

Seaweeds sulfated polysaccharides (SPs) are of interest biomedicinal. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a SP fraction from Caulerpa cupressoides (Chlorophyta) on coagulation, thrombosis, pain, inflammation and toxicity. Swiss mice (28-32 g) and Wistar rats (180-220 g) were used. Alga was submitted to three sequential extractions with papain and yielded 3.15, 1.11 and 0.35% of total SPs, respectively. The fractionations on DEAE-cellulose of the total SPs of the two first extractions resulted into three SP fractions (F 1-0.5 M, F 11-0.75 M and F III-1 M, respectively) that revealed by agarose gel electrophoresis differences in standard and charge density pattern, and from 8.72 to 23.79% of sulfate. The analysis by GPC of the SP fractions (first extraction) showed as heterogeneous systems (from 2.1 to 4.12 x 10 g moL ) and when analyzed by infrared consisting of ester sulfate, uronic acid and galactose-6- sulfate. Fraction F H suggested anticoagulant effect (24.6 IU mg ) possibly antithrombin-dependent (IC5o = ca. 10 mg mL'1). This fi'action, when tested in a model of venous thrombosis in rats, inhibited (p < 0.05) the formation of thrombus (29.87 ± 0.45% and 70.56 ± 0.37% for 1 and 2 mg kg'\ respectively) compared to control group, but at higher doses (> 2 mg kg-l) was hypercoagulability induced. F II (3, 9 or 27 mg kg-I, i. v.) reduced the number of abdominal constrictions (57, 89.9 and 90.6%, respectively), both phases of the formalin test (42.47 and 52.10% first-phase (9 and 27 mg kg'1, respectively), 68.95, 82.34 and 84.61% second-phase) and increased the latency time of mice (9 mg kg ) hot-plate test, compared to control groups (p < 0.05). F II (3, 9 or 27 mg kg ) decreased the total leukocytes (46, 49 and 53%) and neutrophils (64, 69 and 73%) migrations, respectively, as well as the rat paw edema induced by carrageenan not being different from the dexamethasone. Mice were tolerant to TSPs (9 mg kg , i.p.) administered for 14 consecutive days and no changes in liver or kidney were observed (p > 0.05). These findings were confirmed by histological analysis. Therefore, the fraction F II from C. ciipressoides shows to be safe and having anticoagulant, antithrombotic, pro-thrombotic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory actions.