Carrageenans antiviral activity

Pujol CA, Scolaro LA, Ciancia M, Matulewicz MC, Cerezo AS, Damonte EB (2006) Antiviral activity of a carrageenan from Gigartina skottsbergii against intraperitoneal murine Herpes simplex virus infection. Planta Med 72 121-125... 

Many studies have been conducted to investigate the in vitro antiviral activity of various SPs. Studies have generally concentrated on synthetic dex-tran sulfates (DSs), pentosan sulfates, clinically used heparins, and seaweed-derived carrageenans. Some reviews reported that sulfated homopolysaccharides are more potent than sulfated heteropolysaccharides [2,3]. In general, polysaccharides exhibiting antiviral potential are highly sulfated [4]. 

P. C.de S. F. Tischer, L. B. Talarico, M. D. Noseda, S. M. P. B. Guimaraes, E. B. Damonte, and M. E. R. Duarte, Chemical structure and antiviral activity of carrageenans from Meristiella gelidium against herpes simplex and dengue virus, Carbohydr. Polym., 63 (2006) 459 165. 

Gonzalez ME, Alarcon B, Carrasco L. Polysaccharides as antiviral agents antiviral activity of carrageenan. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1987 31(9) 1388-1393. 

Gonzalez, M.E. Alarcon, B. Carrasco, L. Polysaccharides as Antiviral Agents Antiviral Activity of Carrageenan, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.l9Sl, 31, 1388-1393. 

Other poly(saccharides) find practical applications. For example, konjac and carrageenan have numerous cosmetic and medical uses. Konjac is used in controlled release applications and as a barrier film to protect wounds. Carrageenans are used in dentifrices, hand lotions, shaving creams, shampoos and controlled release systems.i Poly(saccharides) derived from fungi have been shown to possess anti-tumor properties, and some recent research suggests curdlan sulfate may have antiviral activity, including potential anti-AIDS activity. The topic of biologically active poly(saccharides) has been reviewed recently.2 ... 

Girond, S Crance, JM Vancuyckgandre, H Renaudet, J Deloince, R. Antiviral activity of carrageenan on hepatitis A virus replication in cell culture. Research in Virology, 1991, 142, 261-270. 

M. J. Carlucci, M. Ciancia, M. C. Matulewicz, A. S. Cerezo, and E. B. Damonte, Antiherpetic activity and mode of action of natural carrageenans of diverse structural types, Antiviral Res., 43 (1999) 93-102. 

Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester (CAPE). CAPE, a phenolic compound with antioxidant properties, is an active ingredient derived from honeybee propolis (52). CAPE has antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties. The compound differentially suppresses the growth of numerous human cancer cells and also inhibits tumor promoter-mediated processes in transformed cells (53,54). In transformed cells, CAPE induces apoptosis and inhibits the expression of the malignant phenotype (55,56). In addition, CAPE treatment attenuates the formation of azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypts and the activities of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), tyrosin protein kinase, and lipoxygenase activity (57). Although the molecular basis for these multiple chemopreventive effects of CAPE is not clear, recent studies have demonstrated that CAPE is a potent and specific inhibitor of the transcription factor NF-kB (58). CAPE inhibited the activity and expression of COX-2 in the carrageenan air pouch model of inflammation as well as in TPA-treated human oral epithelial cells (59). CAPE was able to reduce neointimal formation by inhibiting NF-kB activation in a model of endothelial injury of rat carotid artery (60). 

The antiviral properties of anionic polymers have recently received a lot of attention as agents to protect against infection with sexually transmitted diseases. Due to the cationic nature of most viruses, several anionic polymers are known to bind viruses. As early as the 1960s, researchers had studied the anti-viral properties of a variety of synthetic polymers [118]. However, not all anionic polymers inactivate viruses. Several classes of anionic polymers have been studied for their ability to inactivate the HIV virus. These polymers include poly(styrene-4-sulfonate), 2-naphthalenesulfonate-formaldehyde polymer, and acrylic acid-based polymers. Certain chemically modified natural polymers (i.e., semisynthetic) such as dextrin/dextran sulfates, cellulose sulfate, carrageenan sulfate, and cellulose acetate phthalate have also been investigated for this purpose. Of a number of such anionic polymers that have shown in-vitro and in vivo anti-HIV activity, a couple of polymeric drug candidates have proceeded to early stage human clinical trials for the evaluation of safety/tolerability [119]. While most of these have shown the desired tolerability and safety, further clinical trials are necessary to discern the therapeutic benefit and see if anionic polymers will be applicable as anti-HIV therapies. 

---