ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY OF A SULFATED POLYSACCHARIDE FROM THE RED SEAWEED NOTHOGENIA-FASTIGIATA

The antiviral activity of polysaccharide fractions obtained from water extracts of the red seaweed Nothogenia fastigiata was investigated. F raction F6, corresponding to a sulphated xylomannan, was found to inhi bit efficiently the replication of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) . Furthermore, F6 selectively inhibited the replication of several oth er enveloped viruses including herpes simplex virus type 2, human cyto megalovirus (HCMV), respiratory syncytial virus, influenza A and B vir us, Junin and Tacaribe virus and simian immunodeficiency virus. F6 was only weakly active against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and 2. The mode of action of F6 against HSV-1 and HCMV could be ascribed to an inhibitory effect on virus adsorption.