Antiviral Potential of Algae Polysaccharides Isolated from Marine Sources: A Review

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Azin Ahmadi, University of Malaya; Soheil Zorofchian Moghadamtousi, University of Malaya; Sazaly Abubakar, University of Malaya; Keivan Zandi, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2015-01-01
• Publisher: Hindawi Publishing Corporation
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2015 Azin Ahmadi et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/825203
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: BioMed Research International
• ISSN: 2314-6133
• Volume: 2015
• Start Page: 825203
• End Page: 825203
• Grant/Funding Information: They also would like to thank the University of Malaya for University Malaya Flagship Grant (UMRG) (FL001-13HTM).; The authors would like to thank the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), Malaysia, for Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) (FP054-2014B) and Long-Range Grant Scheme (LRGS) LR001/2011F.
• Keywords: UNDARIA-PINNATIFIDA; Science & Technology; Medicine, Research & Experimental; Research & Experimental Medicine; SEAWEED POLYSACCHARIDES; DENGUE VIRUS; HERPES-SIMPLEX; STRUCTURAL-ANALYSIS; ENVELOPED VIRUSES; BROWN-ALGAE; SULFATED POLYSACCHARIDES; Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology; HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; BIOLOGICAL-ACTIVITIES
• Research Categories: Biology, Microbiology; Health Sciences, Epidemiology

Abstract

From food to fertilizer, algal derived products are largely employed in assorted industries, including agricultural, biomedical, food, and pharmaceutical industries. Among different chemical compositions isolated from algae, polysaccharides are the most well-established compounds, which were subjected to a variety of studies due to extensive bioactivities. Over the past few decades, the promising results for antiviral potential of algae-derived polysaccharides have advocated them as inordinate candidates for pharmaceutical research. Numerous studies have isolated various algal polysaccharides possessing antiviral activities, including carrageenan, alginate, fucan, laminaran, and naviculan. In addition, different mechanisms of action have been reported for these polysaccharides, such as inhibiting the binding or internalization of virus into the host cells or suppressing DNA replication and protein synthesis. This review strives for compiling previous antiviral studies of algae-derived polysaccharides and their mechanism of action towards their development as natural antiviral agents for future investigations.