Anti-viral activity of red microalgal polysaccharides against retroviruses

Table 1 Inhibiting effect of red microalgal polysaccharides on formation of foci by MuSV-124 and on virus production, as measured by reverse transcriptase (RT) activity

Algal polysaccharide	Virus	ffu₅₀ protection (μg/ml)	RT₅₀ reduction (μg/ml)
Porphyridium sp.	MuSV-124	10	-
	MuSV/MuLV	-	5
P. aerugineum	MuSV-124	500	-
	MuSV/MuLV	-	200
Rhodella reticulata	MuSV-124	150	-
	MuSV/MuLV	-	50

NIH/3T3 cells were infected with MuSV-124 or MuSV/MuLV in the presence of various concentrations of algal polysaccharides. ffu₅₀ protection and RT₅₀ reduction represent the concentration of polysaccharide that offers 50% protection against the formation of foci of malignant cells and 50% reduction of RT activity, respectively. Data represent mean values of five separate experiments.