[Immunomodulating properties of pectin from seawater grass Zostera]

Immunomodulating activity of zosterin was studied. Zosterin is a pectin from sea grass belonging to Zostera with pronounced antibacterial activity and therapeutic efficacy in experimental infections. It was shown that parenteral administration of the drug 24 hours before the antigenic irritation stimulated the humoral and cellular immunity in F1 (CBA X C 57 BL/6) mice: an increase in the number of the antibody cells in the spleen, the DTH and the index of the splenocyte spontaneous proliferation. In the animals treated with injections of zosterin and infected intraperitoneally with a virulent strain of S. enteritidis there was observed a marked increase in migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to the abdominal cavity accompanied by an increase in their phagocytic activity. The results suggested the possible use of zosterin as a drug with associated antibacterial and immunomodulating activities.