Purification and bioactivity of a sulphated polysaccharide conjugate from viscera of abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino

A sulphated polysaccharide conjugate ACP I was purified from the viscera of abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino, and its immunostimulatory and anti-tumour activities were studied in vivo. Effect of ACP I on immune function was investigated in normal and cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressive mice. The anti-tumour effect was investigated by growth inhibition of tumour. Dose-dependent increase in spleen and thymus relative weight, lymphocyte proliferation, phagocytosis of macrophage, natural killer cell activity and antibody production was observed in all the tested mice administered with 10, 20 and 40 mg kg-1 body weight of ACP I. Significant increase of the above function was observed especially in immunosuppressive mice at dose of 40 mg kg-1. A significant inhibition of tumour growth was observed in 10, 20 and 40 mg kg-1 ACP I groups, with inhibitory rates of 40.24, 41.91 and 46.43%, respectively. Results suggested that ACP I might have immunomodulating and anti-tumour potential deserving application in functional food industry.