Journal Article

Antiviral Activity of Carrageenans and Processing Implications

Souto, Sandra, Torres, Maria Dolores, Domínguez, Herminia, Flórez-Fernández, Noelia, Bandín, Isabel, Álvarez-Viñas, Milena

2021

Overview

Carrageenan and carrageenan oligosaccharides are red seaweed sulfated carbohydrates with well-known antiviral properties, mainly through the blocking of the viral attachment stage. They also exhibit other interesting biological properties and can be used to prepare different drug delivery systems for controlled administration. The most active forms are λ-, ι-, and κ-carrageenans, the degree and sulfation position being determined in their properties. They can be obtained from sustainable worldwide available resources and the influence of manufacturing on composition, structure, and antiviral properties should be considered. This review presents a survey of the antiviral properties of carrageenan in relation to the processing conditions, particularly those assisted by intensification technologies during the extraction stage, and discusses the possibility of further chemical modifications.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Active control / Algae / Antiviral activity / Antiviral agents / Antiviral Agents - chemistry / Antiviral Agents - pharmacology / Antiviral drugs / antiviral properties / Aquatic Organisms / Biological properties / Carbohydrates / Carrageenan / Carrageenan - chemistry / Carrageenan - pharmacology / Carrageenans / Coronaviruses / depolymerization / Drug delivery / Drug delivery systems / drugs / extraction / Humans / Metabolites / Oligosaccharides / Phytotherapy / red seaweed / Review / Rhodophyta / Seaweed / Seaweeds / sulfated polysaccharides / Sulfation / Surveying / surveys / Viral infections / Virus attachment