Gum arabic, carrageenan of various types and sago palm starch as binders in prawn diets

An experiment was undertaken in order to investigate the use of sago palm starch, gum arabic and carrageenans as binders in prawn diets. Water stability data are presented; EPT-2 carrageenan was found to be the best binder for both steamed and unsteamed pellets.

In vivo growth-inhibition of S 180 tumor by mixture of 5-Fu and low molecular lambda-carrageenan from Chondrus ocellatus

POLYSACCHARIDES; ANTICOAGULANT; SURVIVAL

Preparation and in vitro antioxidant activity of kappa-carrageenan oligosaccharides and their oversulfated, acetylated, and phosphorylated derivatives

In order to study the relationship between chemical structure and properties of modified carrageenans versus antioxidant activity in vitro, K-carrageenan oligosaccharides were prepared through mild hydrochloric acid hydrolysis of the polysaccharide, and these were used as starting materials for the partial synthesis of their oversulfated, acetylated, and phosphorylated derivatives. The structure and substitution pattern of the oligosaccharides and their derivatives were Studied using FTIR and C-13 NMR spectroscopy, and their in vitro antioxidant activities were investigated. Certain derivatives of the carrageenan oligosaccharides exhibited higher antioxidant activity than the polysaccharides and oligosaccharides in certain antioxidant systems. The oversulfated and acetylated derivatives, which scavenge superoxide radicals, the phosphorylated and low-DS acetylated derivatives, which scavenge hydroxyl radicals, and the phosphorylated derivatives, which scavenge DPPH radicals, all exhibited significant antioxidant activities it, the systems examined. The effect of the molecular weight of the carrageenan on antioxidant activities, however, is not obvious from these studies. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Preparation, structural characterization and in vitro antitumor activity of kappa-carrageenan oligosaccharide fraction from Kappaphycus striatum

Oligosaccharides were prepared through mild hydrochloric acid hydrolysis of kappa-carrageenan from Kappaphycus striatum to compare the antitumor activity with carrageenan polysaccharides. Oligosaccharide fractions were isolated by gel permeation chromatography and the structure of fraction 1 (F1) was studied by using negative- ion electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and H-1 and C-13-NMR spectrometry. The in vitro antitumor effects in three human neoplastic cell lines (KB, BGC, and Hela) of polysaccharides and F1 were investigated. The bioassay results showed that F1 exhibited relatively higher antitumor activity against the three cancer cells than polysaccharides.

Antioxidant activity and cytoprotective effect of kappa-carrageenan oligosaccharides and their different derivatives

Antioxidant activity of kappa-carrageenan oligosaccharides (OM) and their chemical modification derivatives was investigated employing various established in vitro systems, such as reducing power, iron ion chelation, and total antioxidant activity using beta-carotene-linoleic acid system. The oversulfated (SD), lowly (LAD), and highly acetylated derivatives (HAD) in reducing power assay, the phosphorylated derivative (PD) in metal chelating assay, and oversulfated and phosphorylated derivatives in total antioxidant activity assay exhibited antioxidant activity higher than that of carrageenan oligosaccharides. The results indicated that the chemical modification of carrageenan oligosaccharides can enhance their antioxidant activity in vitro. The protective effects of the carrageenan oligosaccharides and their chemically modified derivatives against H2O2 and UVA (long-wave ultraviolet radiation) induced oxidative damage on rat thymic lymphocyte were investigated by measuring cell viability via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Thymic lymphocyte exposure to H2O2 and UVA, a marked reduction in cell survival was observed, which was significantly prevented by carrageenan oligosaccharides and their derivatives (preincubated for 2 h) at 66.7-2000 mu g/mL. But both the carrageenan oligosaccharides and their different derivatives showed the similar protective effects on intracellular level. Taken together, these results suggest that carrageenan oligosaccharides and their derivatives show relevant antioxidant activity both in vitro and in a cell system. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Immunomodulation and antitumor activity of kappa-carrageenan oligosaccharides

The modulation of carrageenan oligosaccharides from Kappaphycus striatum on the immune system in S 180-bearing mice was investigated. The mice inoculated with S180 cell suspension were treated p.o. with carrageenan oligosaccharides (50, 100 and 200 mu g/g) for 14 days. The effects of carrageenan oligosaccharides on transplantable tumors and macrophage phagocytosis, quantitative hemolysis of sheep red blood cells (QHS),. lymphocyte proliferation, the activity of natural killer cells (NK), production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were studied. Carrageenan oligosaccharides could significantly inhibit the growth of transplantable sarcoma S180 and increase macrophage phagocytosis, the form of antibody secreted by spleen cells, spleen lymphocyte proliferation, NK cells activity, serumal IL-2 and TNF-alpha level in S 180-bearing mice. Considering all these results, it is suggested that carrageenan oligosaccharides exert their antitumor effect by promoting the immune system. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Capillary zone electrophoresis investigation of interactions between granulocyte-colony stimulating factor and dextran sulfate/carrageenan oligosaccharide

The interactions between granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and dextran sulfate/kappa-carrageenan oligosaccharide were studied by capillary zone electrophoresis. Dextran sulfate could strongly interact with G-CSF and the complex was detected. The binding constant and stoichiometry were determined to be 1.2x10(6) (mol/L)(-1) and 3:1, respectively. However, the interaction between K-carrageenan oligosaccharide and G-CSF was not found.

Differing effects of exogenous and endogenous hydrogen sulphide in carrageenan-induced knee joint synovitis in the rat

Background and purpose: Recent findings suggest that the noxious gas H(2)S is produced endogenously, and that physiological concentrations of H(2)S are able to modulate pain and inflammation in rodents. This study was undertaken to evaluate the ability of endogenous and exogenous H(2)S to modulate carrageenan-induced synovitis in the rat knee. Experimental approach: Synovitis was induced in Wistar rats by intra-articular injection of carrageenan into the knee joint. Sixty minutes prior to carrageenan injection, the rats were pretreated with indomethacin, an inhibitor of H(2)S formation (dl-propargylglycine) or an H(2)S donor [Lawesson`s reagent (LR)]. Key results: Injection of carrageenan evoked knee inflammation, pain as characterized by impaired gait, secondary tactile allodynia of the ipsilateral hindpaw, joint swelling, histological changes, inflammatory cell infiltration, increased synovial myeloperoxidase, protein nitrotyrosine residues, inducible NOS (iNOS) activity and NO production. Pretreatment with LR or indomethacin significantly attenuated the pain responses, and all the inflammatory and biochemical changes, except for the increased iNOS activity, NO production and 3-NT. Propargylglycine pretreatment potentiated synovial iNOS activity (and NO production), and enhanced macrophage infiltration, but had no effect on other inflammatory parameters. Conclusions and implications: Whereas exogenous H(2)S delivered to the knee joint can produce a significant anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effect, locally produced H(2)S exerts little immunomodulatory effect. These data further support the development and use of H(2)S donors as potential alternatives (or complementary therapies) to the available anti-inflammatory compounds used for treatment of joint inflammation or relief of its symptoms.

Putative antinociceptive action of nitric oxide in the caudal part of the spinal trigeminal nucleus during chronic carrageenan-induced arthritis in the rat temporomandibular joint

In order to investigate a putative role for nitric oxide (NO) in the central nociceptive processing following carrageenan-induced arthritis in the rat temporomandibular joint (TMJ), we analyzed the immunoreactivity, gene expression and activity of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) in the caudal part of the spinal trigeminal nucleus (Sp5C) during the acute (24 h), chronic (15 days) and chronic-active (14 days-24 h) arthritis. In addition, evaluation of head-withdrawal threshold was carried out in all phases of arthritis under chronic inhibition of nNOS with the selective inhibitor 7-nitroindazole (7-NI). Neurons with nNOS-like immunoreactivity (nNOS-LI) were concentrated mainly in the lamina II of the Sp5C, showing no significant statistical difference during arthritis. Only a discrete percentage of nNOS-LI neurons expressed Fos immunoreactivity. The mRNA expression for both nNOS and endothelial nitric oxide synthases (eNOS) presented no noticeable differences among the groups. No expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was detected in the Sp5C by either immunohistochemistry or reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR). Ca(2+)-dependent NOS activity in the ipsilateral Sp5C was significantly higher (108.3 +/- 49.2%; P<0.01) in animals during the chronic arthritis. Interestingly, this increased activity was completely abolished 24 h later, in the chronic-active arthritis. Finally, head-withdrawal threshold decreased significantly in the chronic arthritis in animals under 7-NI chronic inhibition. In conclusion, nNOS immunoreactivity and mRNA expression are stable in the Sp5C during TMJ arthritis evolution, but its activity significantly increases in the chronic-phases supporting an antinociceptive role of the nNOS as evidenced by pain threshold experiment. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Participation of peripheral tachykinin NK(1) receptors in the carrageenan-induced inflammation of the rat temporomandibular joint

Temporomandibular disorders represent one of the major challenges in dentistry therapeutics. This study was undertaken to evaluate the time course of carrageenan-induced inflammation in the rat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and to investigate the role of tachykinin NK(1) receptors. Inflammation was induced by a single intra-articular (i.art.) injection of carrageenan into the left TMJ (control group received sterile saline). Inflammatory parameters such as plasma extravasation, leukocyte influx and mechanical allodynia (measured as the head-withdrawal force threshold) and TNF alpha and IL-1 beta concentrations were measured in the TMJ lavages at selected time-points. The carrageenan-induced responses were also evaluated after treatment with the NK(1) receptor antagonist SR140333. The i.art. injection of carrageenan into the TMJ caused a time-dependent plasma extravasation associated with mechanical allodynia, and a marked neutrophil accumulation between 4 and 24 h. Treatment with SR140333 substantially inhibited the increase in plasma extravasation and leukocyte influx at 4 and 24 h, as well as the production of TNF alpha and IL-1 beta into the joint cavity, but failed to affect changes in head-withdrawal threshold. The results obtained from the present TMJ-arthritis model provide, for the first time, information regarding the time course of this experimental inflammatory process. In addition, our data show that peripheral NK(1) receptors mediate the production of both TNF alpha and IL-1 beta in the TMJ as well as some of the inflammatory signs, such as plasma extravasation and leukocyte influx, but not the nociceptive component. 2008 European Federation of Chapters of the International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chlorpropamide treatment restores the reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema and pleural exudate volume in diabetic rats

Objective and design: Knowing that hyperglycemia is a hallmark of vascular dysfunction in diabetes and that neonatal streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (n-STZ) present reduced inflammatory response, we decided to evaluate the effect of chlorpropamide-lowered blood glucose levels on carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and pleural exudate in n-STZ. Materials: Diabetes was induced by STZ injection (160 mg/kg, ip) in neonates (2-day-old) Wistar rats. Treatment: n-STZ diabetic rats were treated with chlorpropamide (200 mg/kg, 15 d, by gavage) 8 weeks after STZ injection. Methods: Carrageenan-induced paw edema and pleural exudate volumes were assessed concomitantly with peripheral and exudate leukocyte count. We also evaluated the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in lungs of all experimental groups. Results: Chlorpropamide treatment improved glucose tolerance, beta-cell function (assessed by HOMA-beta), corrected paw edema, and pleural exudate volume in n-STZ. Neither leukocyte count nor iNOS expression were affected by diabetes or by chlorpropamide treatment. Conclusion: Chlorpropamide treatment by restoring beta-cell function, reducing blood sugar levels, and improving glucose tolerance might be contributing to the correction of the reduced inflammatory response tested as paw edema and pleural exudate in n-STZ diabetic rats.