Antithrombin activity of an algal polysaccharide

In an effort to reduce the risks of a possible iatrogenic transmission of b ovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) through the use of bovine-derived medic inal products, we patented in the USA in 1999 a polysaccharide from brown a lgae, endowed with interesting pharmacological activities: (a) concentratio n-dependent inhibition of thromboplastin or cephalin-kaolin-induced thrombi n generation from platelets, (b) concentration-dependent inhibition of thro mbin-induced platelet aggregation, (c) thrombin has hypotensive effect, whi ch was blunted and zeroed by our fucansulfate in a dose-dependent way, (d) when aortae are stimulated with thrombin, they become stickier for polymorp honucleated leukocytes (PMNs); our fucansulfate decreased concentration-dep endently, PMNs sticking to autologous rabbit aortae, (e) dose-dependent inh ibition of thrombin-induced thrombosis. All the above data suggest that our fucansulfate could be a heparin substitute endowed with antithrombotic and antiinflammatory activities, devoid or the problems caused to heparin by i ts animal origin, i.e., possible prion protein contamination. (C) 2001 Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.