Clarisa N. S. Darko 1**, Sanjida Humayun 1 Rando Tuvikene 1*
The bioactivities of polysaccharides isolated from the edible epiphyte
Vertebrata lanosa
and their respective low-molecular-weight (LMW) biopolymers were
investigated in this study. A sequential extraction procedure was carried
out on ethanol-treated and non-treated algae biomass to yield
polysaccharides of a hybrid nature, containing two agaran-type
polysaccharides, namely funoran and porphyran. The molecular weights of
native polysaccharides ranged from 500 to 5520 kDa. Selected native samples
were further subjected to ultrasonication (60‒180 min) to yield LMW
fractions ranging from 62 to 131 kDa. A comparative analysis between the
ethanol-treated (B1) and non-treated (B2) samples revealed variations in the
molecular weights of native polysaccharides with influence from the
respective extraction conditions. The different antioxidant assays further
showed a synergistic effect of molecular weight, sulfate, and sugar acids on
the capacity of both native and depolymerized samples. A significantly high
neutralization efficiency against hydroxyl radicals (up to 95%) was recorded
in LMW samples. The inhibition of α-glucosidase enzymeby the tested
samples was shown to be highest in the LMW polysaccharides prepared using
room temperature extracted fractions. In vitro assays using selected native
fractions showed no cellular toxicity on RAW264.7 macrophages using 0.5‒32
µg/mL polysaccharide concentration. A trend that indicated influences of the
pre-ethanol treatment and the type of precipitant used was also observed in
the amounts of nitric oxide (NO) produced. Overall, produced NO in
comparison to LPS was recorded in amounts that indicated immunomodulatory
effects. Additionally, the treated cells recorded phagocytosis effect which
highly varied in comparison with indicates a stimulatory effect on
macrophages. These findings have in all, shown different levels of bioactive
effects of the hybrid agaran isolated from V. lanosaand
its potential application for nutraceutical related applications.