Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An immune-enhancing water-soluble α-glucan from Chlorella vulgaris and structural characteristics

  • Published:
Food Science and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Water-extractable polysaccharides obtained from Chlorella vulgaris were fractionated using anion-exchange chromatography to investigate molecular characteristics and biological activities. Crude and fractionated polysaccharides F1, F2, and F3 mostly consisted of carbohydrates (40.0-64.7%), proteins (18.3-31.0%), ash (4.10-16.6%), and uronic acids (1.02-7.30%). Monosaccharide constituents were predominantly glucose (83.9-100%) with small amounts of xylose (10.8-16.1%). Crude polysaccharide and fractions contained 1 or 2 sub-fractions with average Mw values ranging from 19.7 to 1,145×103 g/mol. Fractions F1, F2, and F3 stimulated RAW264.7 cells, inducing release of NO, PGE2, and the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10. The biologically active part of the immune-enhancing fraction (F3) was mainly connected via 1,6-linked glucose with branches at C-3 positions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Morimoto T, Nagatsu A, Murakami N, Sakakibara J, Harukuni T, Nishino H. Anti-tumor-promoting glyceroglycolipids from the green alga, Chlorella vulgaris. Phytochemistry 40: 1433–1437 (1995)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Halperin SA, Smith B, Nolan C, Shay J, Kralovec J. Safety and immunoenhancing effect of a Chlorella-derived dietary supplement in healthy adults undergoing influenza vaccination: Randomized, double-blind, placebocontrolled trial. Can. Med. Assoc. J. 169: 111–117 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hu QH, Pan BS, Xu J, Sheng JC, Shi Y. Effects of supercritical carbon dioxide extraction conditions on yields and antioxidant activity of Chlorella pyrenoidosa extracts. J. Food Eng. 80: 997–1001 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Wang HM, Pan JL, Chen CY, Chiu CC, Yang MH, Chang HW. Identification of anti-lung cancer extract from Chlorella vulgaris by antioxidant property using supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. Process Biochem. 45: 1865–1872 (2010)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ko SC, Kim D, Jeon YJ. Protective effect of a novel antioxidative peptide purified from a marine Chlorella ellipsoidea protein against free radicalinduced oxidative stress. Food Chem. Toxicol. 50: 2294–2302 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kralovec JA, Power MR, Liub F, Maydanski E, Ewart HS, Watson LV. An aqueous Chlorella extract inhibits IL-5 production by mast cells in vitro and reduces ovalbumin-induced eosinophil infiltration in the airway in mice in vivo. Int. Immunopharmacol. 5: 689–698 (2005)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Ewart HS, Bloch O, Girouard GS, Kralovec J, Barrow CJ, Yehudah GB. Stimulation of cytokine production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by an aqueous extract. Planta Med. 73: 762–768 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hsu HY, Ashoke NJ, Yeh CH, Song YJ, Hua KF, Chao LK. Immunostimulatory bioactivity of algal polysaccharides from Chlorella pyrenoidosa activates macrophages via Toll-Like receptor 4. J. Agr. Food Chem. 58: 927–936 (2010)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Suárez ER, Kralovec JA, Noseda MD, Ewart HS, Barrow CJ, Lumsden MD. Isolation, characterization and structural determination of a unique type of arabinogalactan from an immunostimulatory extract of Chlorella pyrenoidosa. Carbohyd. Res. 340: 1489–1498 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Suárez ER, Bugden SM, Kai FB, Kralovec JA, Noseda MD, Barrow CJ. First isolation and structural determination of cyclic ß-(1-2)-glucans from an alga, Chlorella pyrenoidosa. Carbohyd. Res. 343: 2623–2633 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Suárez ER, Kralovec JA, Grindley TB. Isolation of phosphorylated polysaccharides from algae: The immunostimulatory principle of Chlorella pyrenoidosa. Carbohyd. Res. 345: 1190–1204 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Ogawa K, Ikeda Y, Kondo S. A new trisaccharide, a-D-glucopyranuronosyl-(1-3)-a-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-2)-a-L-rhamnopyranose from Chlorella vulgaris. Carbohyd. Res. 321: 128–131 (1999)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Kojima M, Shishido K, Kobayashi S, Dobashi M, Ino S. A Chlorella polysaccharide as a factor stimulating RES activity. J. Reticuloendoth. Soc. 14: 192–208 (1973)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Mao WJ, Fang F, Li HY, Qi XH, Sun HH, Chen Y. Heparinoid-active two sulfated polysaccharides isolated from marine green algae Monostroma nitidum. Carbohyd. Polym. 47: 834–839 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Kaeffer B, Benard C, Lahaye M, Blottiere HM, Cherbut C. Biological properties of ulvan, a new source of green seaweed sulfated polysaccharides, on cultured normal and cancerous colonic epithelial cells. Planta Med. 65: 527–531 (1999)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Tabarsa M, Lee SJ, You SG. Structural analysis of immunostimulating sulfated polysaccharides from Ulva pertusa. Carbohyd. Res. 361: 141–147 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Dubois M, Gilles KA, Hamilton JK, Rebers PA, Smith F. Colorimetric method for determination of sugars and related substances. Anal. Chem. 28: 350–356 (1956)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ. Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J. Biol. Chem. 193: 265–275 (1951)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Filisetti-Cozzi TMCC, Carpita NC. Measurement of uronic acids without interference from neutral sugars. Anal. Biochem. 197: 157–162 (1991)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Gerwig GJ, Kamerling JP, Vliegenthart JFG. Determination of the D and L configuration of neutral monosaccharides by high-resolution capillary G.L.C. Carbohyd. Res. 62: 349–357 (1978)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Ciucanu I, Kerek F. A simple and rapid method for the permethylation of carbohydrates. Carbohyd. Res. 13: 209–217 (1984)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Tabarsa M, Karnjanapratum S, Cho M, Kim JK, You SG. Molecular characteristics and biological activities of anionic macromolecules from Codium fragile. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 59: 1–12 (2013)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Kralovec JA, Metera KL, Kumar JR, Watson LV, Girouard GS, Guan Y. Immunostimulatory principles from Chlorella pyrenoidosa-Part 1: Isolation and biological assessment in vitro. Phytomedicine 14: 57–64 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Shi Y, Sheng J, Yang F, Hu Q. Purication and identication of polysaccharide derived from Chlorella pyrenoidosa. Food Chem. 103: 101–105 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Sheng JC, Yu F, Xin ZH, Zhao LY, Zhu XJ, Hu QH. Preparation, identication and their antitumor activities in vitro of polysaccharides from Chlorella pyrenoidosa. Food Chem. 105: 533–539 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Rezanka T, Singler K. Structural analysis of a polysaccharide from Chlorella kessleri by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of its saccharide alditols. Folia Microbiol. 52: 246–252 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Ogawa K, Yamaura M, Ikeda Y, Kondo S. New aldobiouronic acid, 3-Oglucopyranuronosyl-L-rhamnopyranose, from an acidic polysaccharide of Chlorella vulgaris. Biosci. Biotech. Bioch. 62: 2030–2031 (1998)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Suárez ER, Syvitski R, Kralovec JA, Noseda MD, Barrow CJ, Ewart HS. Immunostimulatory polysaccharides from Chlorella pyrenoidosa. A new galactofuranan. Measurement of molecular weight and molecular weight dispersion by DOSY NMR. Biomacromolecules 7: 2368–2376 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Queiroz ML, Bincoletto C, Valadares MC, Dantas DC, Santos LM. Effects of Chlorella vulgaris extract on cytokines production in Listeria monocytogenes infected mice. Immunopharm. Immunot. 24: 483–496 (2002)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Yi Y, Zhang MW, Liao ST, Zhang RF, Deng YY, Wei ZC. Structural features and immunomodulatory activities of polysaccharides of Longan Pulp. Carbohyd. Polym. 87: 636–643 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Bhunia SK, Dey B, Maity KK, Patra S, Mandal S, Maiti S. Structural characterization of an immunoenhancing heteroglycan isolated from an aqueous extract of an edible mushroom, Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont.) Singer. Carbohyd. Res. 345: 2542–2549 (2010)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Agrawal PK. NMR spectroscopy in the structural elucidation of oligosaccharides and glycosides. Phytochemistry 31: 3307–3330 (1992)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Food Science and Technology, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Gangwon, 25457, Korea

    Mehdi Tabarsa, Il-Shik Shin, Utoomporn Surayot, WooJung Park & SangGuan You

  2. Department of Seafood Processing, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, 46414-356, Iran

    Mehdi Tabarsa

  3. Marine Bio Regional Innovation Center, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Gangwon, 25457, Korea

    Ju Hun Lee

Authors
  1. Mehdi Tabarsa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Il-Shik Shin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ju Hun Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Utoomporn Surayot
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. WooJung Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. SangGuan You
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to SangGuan You.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tabarsa, M., Shin, IS., Lee, J.H. et al. An immune-enhancing water-soluble α-glucan from Chlorella vulgaris and structural characteristics. Food Sci Biotechnol 24, 1933–1941 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-015-0255-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-015-0255-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation