Extracellular polysaccharide produced by Chlorella vulgaris - Chemical characterization and anti-asthmatic profile.

Microalgae are the lowest plant organisms producing a wide range of metabolites that make them interesting organisms for industrial applications. Cultivation of green microalgal species Chlorella vulgaris resulted a significant production of extracellular polysaccharide (EPS). Preliminary chemico-spectroscopic studies on EPS revealed its molecular profile, a complex primary structure consisting of six monosaccharide units occurring in both furano and pyrano forms, a high sugar binding variability and the presence of partially methylated derivatives of some sugar constituents. Biological activity tests showed that EPS caused significant bronchodilatory, anti-inflammatory and antitussive effects in test animals. Chlorella EPS appears to be a promising agent for the prevention of chronic airway inflammation, which is the basic pathogenic mechanism of many respiratory diseases, including bronchial asthma.