ISOLATION OF A POLYSACCHARIDE WITH ANTIVIRAL EFFECT FROM ULVA-LACTUCA

A polysaccharide from the green marine algae Ulva lactuca has been iso lated. The substance has been investigated after acid hydrolysis by th in-layer and gas chromatography. The following carbohydrate components have been found : rabinose-xylose-rhamnose-galactose-mannose-glucose in ratio 1:1:9:5:2.5:16 respectively. One unidentified sugar has been demonstrated too. The polysaccharide has been studied for antiviral ac tivity in vitro against a number of human and avian influenza viruses. A considerable inhibition of the viral reproduction was found. The ef fect was dose-dependent, strain-specific and selective.