<b><i>In vivo</i> toxicological evaluation of crude sulfated polysaccharide from the green seaweed <i>Caulerpa cupressoides</i> var. <i>lycopodium</i> in Swiss mice</b> - doi: 10.4025/actascitechnol.v35i4.15699

Abstract

Seaweeds are widely consumed as vegetables and medicinal products. The green seaweed Caulerpa cupressoides var. lycopodium sulfated polysaccharides (SPs) demonstrated anticoagulant (in vitro) and anti- and prothrombotic (in vivo) effects. However, their toxicity in vivo has not been fully determined. This study evaluated their toxicity in vivo in male Swiss mice. Animals (20-26 g, six group-1) received crude SP (9 mg kg-1, i.p.) or 0.9% saline (0.1 mL 10 g-1, i.p.) for 14 consecutive days, and then analyzed the wet weight of animal’s body organs-1 and biochemical/hematological parameters. Histopathological evaluation was also performed related to crude SP treatment. The results showed that crude SP did not cause toxicity and mortality. Regarding the biochemical analyses, crude SP did not lead to hepatic or renal dysfunctions, but affected (p 3 µL-1) compared with the control (969.75 ± 0.51 × 103 µL-1) according to the hematological evaluation. Although histological changes in the liver and kidney have occurred, results suggested reversibility. The increased spleen size (p C. cupressoides could represent safe pharmacological tool in future studies on immunomodulation and thrombosis in vivo.

Keywords

• Caulerpaceae
• green alga
• sulfated polymers
• toxicity
• systemic evaluation