Effects of structural modification of calcium spirulan, a sulfated polysaccharide from Spirulina platensis, on antiviral activity

Calcium ion binding with the anionic part of a molecule was replaced with v arious metal cations and their inhibitory effects on the replication of her pes simplex virus type 1 were evaluated. Replacement of calcium ion,vith so dium and potassium ions maintained the antiviral activity while divalent an d trivalent metal cations reduced the activity, Depolymerization of sodium spirulan with hydrogen peroxide decreased in ant iviral activity as its molecular weight decreased.