Effect of galactofucan sulfate of a brown seaweed on induced hepatotoxicity in rats, sodium pentobarbital-induced sleep, and anti-inflammatory activity

This study was designed to characterize the chemical composition, anti-oxidant activity, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effect of the polysaccharide a galactofucan sulfate (GFS) from brown seaweed Lobophora variegata. Chemical characterization was performed by several chemical methods, high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (H-1, C-13, heteronuclear multiple quantum correlation (HMQC), and H-1-H-1 COSY), and infrared spectroscopies. The results showed an acidic polysaccharide with a high level of sulfated fucose and galactose. GFS displayed anti-oxidant effects acting directly on the free radicals. Pretreatment with fucans in mice induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration resulted in a significantly inhibited increase in the blood enzymatic activities and bilirubin level. Administration of GFS (75 mg kg(-1)) reduced (p < 0.01) the activities of enzymes. This was shown by assessment of hepatic markers alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamil transferase (gamma-GT), and bilirubin reduction in serum. Histological analysis of the liver confirmed the effects of fucans on hepatoprotection. This fucan affects time of sodium pentobarbital-induced sleep, also demonstrating its effect on hepatic recuperation.