Structural characterization and protective effect against murine sepsis of fucogalactans from Agaricus bisporus and Lactarius rufus

Fucogalactans from edible Agaricus bisporus (RFP-Ab) and wild Lactarius rufus (RFP-Lr) mushrooms were obtained on aqueous extraction followed by purification. RFP-Ab had M-w 43.8 x 10(4) g mol(-1) and RFP-Lr M-w 1.4 x 10(4) g mol(-1). RFP-Lr had a (1 -> 6)-linked alpha-D-Galp main-chain partially substituted at O-2 by nonreducing end-units of alpha-L-Fucp (29%). While RFP-Ab had a similar main chain, it was partially substituted at O-2 by nonreducing end-units of alpha-L-Fucp (2.8%) and beta-D-Galp (14.5%), and partially methylated at HO-3. Both RFP-Lr and RFP-Ab were tested in mice against polymicrobial sepsis. Lethality rate, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and cytokine levels were determined. It was observed a reduction in late mortality rate by 62.5% and 50%, respectively, prevention of neutrophil accumulation in ileum and decreasing in TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta serum levels. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.