Effects of Hyriopsis cumingii polysaccharides on angiogenesis, macrophage chemotaxis, proliferation and phagocytosis.

Anti-angiogenic activities of crude Hyriopsis cumingii polysaccharides (HCPS) and its purified fractions (HCPS-1, HCPS-2 and HCPS-3) were evaluated in vivo using the chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. The promoting effects of crude HCPS and its purified fractions on the chemotaxis, proliferation and phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophage were tested by cell model in vitro and cyclophosphamide-induced immuno-suppression animal model in vivo. The results showed that HCPS could significantly suppress the neovascularization of chicken embryo CAM and promote peritoneal macrophage migrating to monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), propagating and devouring sheep red blood cell (SRBC) in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, HCPS-3 showed stronger immunostimulatory activities in vitro than crude HCPS, HCPS-1 and HCPS-2. The beneficial effects of HCPS on the immune system might be, at least in part, attributed to the improvement of chemotaxis, proliferation and phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophage. All these results suggest that HCPS is a potential immunoenhancing and anti-tumor agent.