Chemical characterization and antineoplastic effect of oligosaccharides from Cabernet Franc red wine in mammary tumor model in mice.

The present study characterized oligosaccharide compounds (Oligo) in Cabernet Franc red wine and investigated its antineoplastic effects against mammary tumor cells in vivo and in vitro, isolated or in combination with chemotherapy. The Oligo fraction was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The complex mixture of Oligo showed high amounts of oligoxyloglucuronans, oligorhamnogalacturonans, oligoarabinogalactans, and oligoglucans, such as trehalose and isomaltotriose. To investigate the antineoplastic effects of Oligo, Female Swiss mice were subcutaneously inoculated with Ehrlich tumor cells and then received vehicle (distilled water, p.o.), Oligo solution (9, 35, or 70 mg/kg, p.o.), or methotrexate (1.5 mg/kg, i.p.). The treatments were administered in a conventional (21-d) or chemopreventive (42-d) protocol. Oligo reduced the growth of Ehrlich tumors in both protocols and increased the effectiveness of methotrexate in controlling tumor growth. Oligo did not reduce the viability of MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-436, and HB4a human breast cells that were cultured for 48 h, showing no cytotoxicity. Overall, Oligo exerted an in vivo antineoplastic effect and modulated immune blood cells, dependent on treatment time, and was not directly cytotoxic to tumor cells. Thus, Oligo may indirectly regulate tumor cell development and may be a promising drug for cancer therapy in combination with methotrexate.

Antimelanoma effect of a fucoxylomannan isolated from Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies.

A fucoxylomannan (FXM) was isolated from the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum through alkaline extraction followed by dialysis, freeze-thawing, and fractionation by Fehling's solution. The main chain of FXM presented α-d-Manp-(1→4)-linked units, and some of them were branched at O-6 position by α-l-Fucp-(1→2)-ß-d-Xylp groups. Its Mw was 35.9 kDa. FXM was tested on melanoma B16-F10 cells and it showed cell viability and cell density reduction, as well as antiproliferative effect, through cell cycle arrest. Additionally, the anchorage-independent clonogenic capacity of such cells was significantly reduced by FXM, decreasing the number of cells by colony and the colonies area. No effect on viability neither in proliferation of non-tumoral Balb c/3T3 fibroblasts was observed. These results indicate that FXM is a promising anti-proliferative compound impairing pivotal tumorigenic mechanisms, eliciting this polysaccharide to be further explored as an antimelanoma drug.

ß-(1→6)-D-glucan secreted during the optimised production of exopolysaccharides by Paecilomyces variotii has immunostimulatory activity.

Paecilomyces variotii is a filamentous fungus that occurs worldwide in soil and decaying vegetation. Optimization of the fermentation process for exopolysaccharide (EPS) production from the fungus P. variotii, structure determination and immuno-stimulating activity of EPS were performed. Response surface methodology (RSM) coupled with central composite design (CCD) was used to optimize the physical and chemical factors required to produce EPS in submerged fermentation. Preliminary investigations to choose the three factors for the present work were made using a factorial experimental design. Glucose, ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) and pH were used as variables for which, with constant temperature of 28 °C and agitation of 90 rpm, the optimal process parameters were determined as glucose values of 0.96%, NH4NO3 0.26% and pH 8.0. The three parameters presented significant effects. In this condition of culture, the main composition of the isolated EPS was a linear ß-(1 â†’ 6)-linked-D-glucan, as determined by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and methylation analysis. This polysaccharide is a very unusual as an EPS from fungi, especially a filamentous fungus such as P. variotii. Murine peritoneal macrophages cultivated with ß-glucan for 6 and 48 h showed an increase in TNF-α, IL-6 and nitric oxide release with increased polysaccharide concentrations. Therefore, we conclude that the ß-(1 â†’ 6)-linked-D-glucan produced in optimised conditions of P. variotii cultivation has an immune-stimulatory activity on murine macrophages.

Structural analysis of a sulfated galactan from the tunic of the ascidian Microcosmus exasperatus and its inhibitory effect of the intrinsic coagulation pathway.

Several bioactive sulfated galactans have been isolated from the tunic of different species of ascidians. The biological activity of this kind of polysaccharides has been related with the presence and position of sulfate groups, and by the chemical composition of this kind of polysaccharides. A sulfated galactan (1000RS) was isolated from the tunic of the Brazilian ascidia Microcosmus exasperatus through proteolytic digestion, ethanol precipitation, dialysis and freeze-thaw cycles. Homogeneity and molecular weight were estimated by using size exclusion chromatography. Monosaccharide composition and type of linkage were assessed by Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and the sulfate content was quantified through gelatin/BaCl2 method. These experiments along with NMR and FTIR analysis allowed to claim that the galactan backbone is mainly composed of 4-linked α-l-Galp units. In addition, they permitted to establish that some of the galactose residues are sulfated at the 3-position. This sulfated polysaccharide, which has an average molecular mass of 439.5kDa, presents anticoagulant effect in a dose-dependent manner through the inhibition of the intrinsic coagulation pathway.

ß-(1→3)-Glucan of the Southern Bracket Mushroom, Ganoderma australe (Agaricomycetes), Stimulates Phagocytosis and Interleukin-6 Production in Mouse Peritoneal Macrophages.

Ganoderma australe was studied to determine the composition of the cell wall, and polysaccharide fraction SK5 was obtained after freeze-thawing an aqueous 5% potassium hydroxide extraction. The monosaccharide composition of the SK5 fraction revealed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed 81.3% glucose, and analyses by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy confirmed a ß-glucan with glycosidic links of the (1→3)-ß type and most likely 4-O substituted. In addition, the biological effect of the ß-glucan from G. australe was evaluated via in vitro cell cultures of peritoneal macrophages isolated from Swiss mice. Biological assays were assessed for toxicity and cell activation, interleukin-6 cytokine concentrations, and the ability to stimulate phagocytic activity. There was an increase in interleukin-6 by approximately 111% with 1.0 µg/mL of polysaccharide, and phagocyte activity was increased in all concentrations examined, obtaining 52.3% with 0.25 µg/mL polysaccharide. The results indicate that a ß-(1→3)-glucan isolated from G. australe can be classified as a biological response modifier.

Evaluation of the structural composition and surface properties of rhamnolipid mixtures produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa UFPEDA 614 in different cultivation periods.

We studied the production of rhamnolipids by Pseudomonas aeruginosa UFPEDA 614 in submerged culture, using glycerol as the carbon source. A rhamnolipid yield of 15.9 g/L was obtained with 40 g/L glycerol and 5 g/L sodium nitrate as nitrogen source after 7 days of cultivation. Structural analysis carried out at different cultivation periods showed that the four major mono-rhamnolipid homologues are present in higher proportion in the first 48 h. Over time, the corresponding four major di-rhamnolipid homologues predominated, representing about 75 % of the total rhamnolipids after 96 h. Physicochemical analysis of the rhamnolipid mixtures obtained at different cultivation periods showed that the sample obtained from the first day of cultivation had the lower critical micelle concentration (15.6 mg/L), which is probably related to the higher proportion of mono-rhamnolipids. The results presented here show that the composition of the mixture of rhamnolipid homologues produced by P. aeruginosa UFPEDA 614 varies over time and that this variation influences the physicochemical properties of the mixture. These findings can be used in order to produce rhamnolipid mixtures that have suitable properties for different applications.

Production of rhamnolipids in solid-state cultivation using a mixture of sugarcane bagasse and corn bran supplemented with glycerol and soybean oil.

Rhamnolipid biosurfactants are attracting attention due to their low toxicity, high biodegradability, and good ecological acceptability. However, production in submerged culture is made difficult by severe foaming problems. Solid-state cultivation (SSC) is a promising alternative production method. In the current work, we report the optimization of rhamnolipid production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa UFPEDA 614 on a solid substrate containing sugarcane bagasse and corn bran. The best rhamnolipid production, 45 g/l of impregnating solution used, was obtained with a 50:50 (m/m) mixture of sugarcane bagasse and corn bran supplemented with an impregnating solution containing 6% (v/v) of each of glycerol and soybean oil. This level is comparable with those of previous studies undertaken in solid-state cultivation; the composition of the biosurfactant is similar, but our medium is cheaper. Our work therefore provides a suitable basis for future studies of the development of an SSC-based process for rhamnolipid production.