Immunosppressive Effects of Marine Algae on Experimental Murine Models

Abstract

Water extracts of marine algae with in vitro immunosppressive activity were investigated for in vivo activity using murine models of collagen-induced arthritis and skin transplantation. Eleven (3 brown and 8 red algae) of them had suppressive activity on the collagen-induced mouse arthritis model. Of these algae, Eisenia bicyclis, Sargassum sagamianum, Amphiroa aberrans, and Gracilaria verrucosa, in particular, showed high activity. On the other hand, treatment with extracts from Codium fragile, Codium intricatum, Codium divaricatum, and Liagora sp. prolonged the allograft survival time on the murine skin rejection model. One of these algal extracts, those from Liagora sp., markedly prolonged the allograft survival time. These results suggest that bioactive compounds with immunosuppressive activity may be contained in these algae. © 1995, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science. All rights reserved.