Chemical structure and biological properties of a polysaccharide isolated from Pleurotus sajor-caju.

Herein, a polysaccharide obtained from Pleurotus sajor-caju was fractionated via anion-exchange column chromatography and purified using gel permeation column chromatography. The chemical characterization of the polysaccharide indicated that it contained 90.16% total carbohydrate, 0% protein, 12.7% ash and 5.2% moisture; on the other hand, the carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen contents were found to be 31.53, 4.28 and 3.01%, respectively. The polysaccharide has the molecular weight of 79 kDa; the chemical structure of the polysaccharide is →6)α-d-Glciv(1→6)α-d-Glciii(1→6)ß-d-Glcii(1→6)α-d-Glci(1→units. The polysaccharide exhibited the DPPH radical scavenging activity of 21.67-68.35% at 10-160 µg ml-1, ABTS radical scavenging activity of 16.01-70.09% at 25-125 µg ml-1, superoxide radical scavenging activity of 24.31-73.64% at 50-250 µg ml-1, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of 16.64-63.51% at 25-125 µg ml-1 and reducing power of 0.366-1.678% at 10-120 µg ml; further evaluation of the polysaccharide revealed its anticancer activity of 18.61-63.21% at 100-500 µg ml-1 concentration against the AGS human gastric carcinoma cell line. The active principle of the polysaccharide may be used in the food and pharmacological industry in the future.

Chitosan nanoparticles from marine squid protect liver cells against N-diethylnitrosoamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Rationale of this study was framed to investigate the protective effect and anti-cancer property of nanoparticles based on chitosan isolated from squid, Sepioteuthis lessoniana, on hepatic cells in N-Nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats. The results conferred that the chitosan nanoparticle supplementation had a protective effect on liver cells by reducing the levels of marker enzymes and bilirubin and thus increasing the albumin levels. The level of reduced glutathione, ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol significantly increased in both post- and pre-treatment with chitosan nanoparticles. The levels of antioxidant enzymes were enhanced and lipid peroxidation products were diminished while treating nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma with chitosan nanoparticles. Supplementation of chitosan nanoparticles had potent anti-hyperlipidemic property that was evidenced by monitoring the serum lipid levels and its components. Animals pre-treated with chitosan nanoparticles along with nitrosodiethylamine showed a significant reduction in the total cholesterol and triglycerides levels with increase in the levels of phospholipids and free fatty acids. Chitosan nanoparticles treated rats showed significant increment in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and reduction in low-density lipoprotein and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol when compared with levels in nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma. Nitrosodiethylamine-induced carcinoma changes on circulation and hepatic antioxidant defense mechanism were regulated by chitosan nanoparticles, concluding that the chitosan nanoparticles have a potent protective effect on liver cells which might be due to its robust antioxidant and anti-lipidemic property.

Mucopolysaccharide from cuttlefish: Purification, chemical characterization and bioactive potential.

The sulfated mucopolysaccharide (GAG) was isolated from S. pharonis and the carbohydrate and protein content was found to be 62.4% and 3.9%. The disaccharide profile of sulfated GAG composed glucuronic acid, N-acetyl glucosamine and sulfate content by contributing 50.11%, 38.00% and 27.69% respectively. The carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content of the sulfated GAG showed 14.80%, 1.68% and 2.99% respectively. The molecular weight of sulfated GAG was calculated as 27kDa and the structural characterization was done by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) and NMR Spectroscopy. The Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) and Prothrombin Time (PT) of sulfated GAG were determined as 91 IU and 39.55 IU at 25µg/ml respectively. Further the sulfated GAG reported the cytotoxic effect (CC50) of 1100µg/ml concentration on Vero cell line. The sulfated GAG reported the anticancer activity against HeLa cell line with an inhibition rate of 18.65%-66.13% at 50-250µg/ml concentration. The sulfated GAG can be considered as a potent anticoagulant and anticancer drug in future.

Fabrication of ß-chitosan nanoparticles and its anticancer potential against human hepatoma cells.

ß-Chitosan from the gladius was enzymatically depolymerized and utilized for the synthesis of ß-chitosan nanoparticles using sodium tripolyphosphate by ionotropic gelation. The size and zeta potential of ß-Chitosan nanoparticles (ß-CNP) were determined. The structural features were evaluated by FT-IR and NMR spectral analysis. The morphological characterization, composition and surface topography of ß-CNP were explored by SEM, EDAX and AFM techniques. The thermal and crystallographic nature of ß-CNP was also studied. The cell viability of HepG2 cells inhibited by ß-CNP was detected in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory concentration of ß-CNP was 30µg/ml. Various biochemical parameters such as TBARS and lipid hydroperoxides, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant (SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH) studies proved the anticancer property of ß-CNP in HepG2 cells. This study suggests that ß-CNP should be a promising drug for treating hepatocellular carcinoma in future.

Extraction, characterization and antioxidant property of chitosan from cuttlebone Sepia kobiensis (Hoyle 1885).

Chitin was extracted from the cuttlebone of Sepia kobiensis and chitosan was prepared through deacetylation. The chitosan was characterized for its structural, physical and thermal (CHN, DDA, FT-IR, NMR, XRD, Viscometric analysis, SEM and DSC) properties. Further, the chitosan exhibited the antioxidant activity of 50.68-74.36% at 1-10 mg ml(-1) and it also showed the reducing power of 0.28% at 1 mg ml(-1). At 10 mg ml(-1), the chitosan exhibited the scavenging ability of 46.17%, on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals, 23.38-73.70% on superoxide radicals at 0.05-1.6 mg ml(-1) and 18.34% to 62.39% (0.1-3.2 mg ml(-1)) on hydroxyl radicals; whereas at 1-10 mg ml(-1) the chelating ability on ferrous ions was calculated as 49.74-73.59%. Based on the potential antioxidant activity, scavenging ability on hydroxyl radicals and chelating abilities on ferrous ions, the chitosan from the cuttlebone of S. kobiensis may not only be used as a potent natural antioxidant but also as a possible food quality enhancer ingredient in the pharmaceutical industry.