Water-extracted polysaccharides from Azadirachta indica leaves Structural features, chemical modification and anti-bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1) activity

In this study we have analyzed the pectic arabinogalactan isolated from Azadirachta indica and its chemically sulfated derivative The native polysaccharide had an apparent molecular mass of 80 kDa and is made up of (1 -> 5)-/(1 -> 3 5)-linked alpha-L-arabinosyl (1 -> 3)-/(1 -> 6)-/(1 -> 3 6)-linked beta-D-galactosyl and terminal-rhamnosyl and a-L-arabinosyl residues These macromolecules showed activity against bovine herpesvirus type-1 Their inhibitory concentration 50% values ranging from 31 12 to 105 25 mu g/ml were lower than the cytotoxicity values (>1600-1440 mu g/ml) The anti-viral effect was exerted during virus adsorption to the cell Anionic groups in particular the sulfate groups appeared to be very important for the anti-herpetic activity of these polymers (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved