The purification, physico-chemical characterization and bioactivity of polysaccharides from Viscum album

The aim of this paper was the isolation and purification of medical interest polysaccharides from the European mistletoe (Viscum album L.) and their chemical and biological characterization in view of the usefulness for the regeneration of dermal tissue wounds. Four tractions (A1-A4) were obtained by ethanol precipitation of the polysaccharide aqueous total extract (PZT). The fraction A2 was the richest in hexoses (42.12 %) and was purified by ion-exchange chromatography, resulting six fractions (B1-B6). The chemical composition of the purified fractions showed that B3 had the highest content in hexoses (30.06 %) and uronic acids (23.74 %). The gelatin-zymography analysis of the proteinases secreted by the dermal fibroblasts in the presence of A2 and B3 samples has demonstrated that, at a concentration of 100 μg/ml, they didn't affect the cellular metabolism. The spectrophotometric method used to study the influence of purified polysaccharides on cell viabillity showed that the tested fractions were not toxic. In conclusion, the selected polysaccharide fractions, A2 and B3, can be used as active compounds in the composition of bioproducts for the regeneration of injured dermal tissue.

Duke Scholars

Author Oana Craciunescu Radiation Oncology