Sulfated Polysaccharides in Marine Sponges: Extraction Methods and Anti-HIV Activity

Marine Drugs

Ana I. S. Esteves²  Marisa Nicolai³  Madalena Humanes¹ 

[1] Centre of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Building C8, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal; E-Mail:;Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal;Oral and Biomedical Sciences Research Unit, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Lisbon, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal; E-Mail:

关键词: porifera;    Erylus discophorus;    polysaccharides;    anti-HIV activity;   

DOI  :  10.3390/md9010139

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

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).

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2011 by the authors; licensee Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland