Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Field Experiments of Pollination Ecology: The Case of Lycoris sanguinea var. sanguinea
Published on: November 25, 2016
Caulerpa Cupressoides Var. Flabellata
Jefferson Da Silva Barbosa1,2,3, Mariana Santana Santos Pereira Costa4, Luciana Fentanes Moura De Melo5
1Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Polímeros Naturais (), Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, 59078-970, Brazil. jefferson.barbosa@ifrn.edu.br.
Sulfated polysaccharides from Caulerpa cupressoides seaweed enhance immune cell activity. These compounds stimulate nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species, and cytokine production, showing potential for biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Marine biotechnology
- Immunology
- Natural products chemistry
Background:
- Green seaweeds are abundant sources of sulfated polysaccharides (SPs).
- SPs possess potential biomedical and nutraceutical properties.
- Caulerpa cupressoides var. flabellata is a green seaweed species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immunostimulatory effects of SPs from Caulerpa cupressoides var. flabellata.
- To evaluate the impact of SPs on murine RAW 264.7 macrophage responses.
- To assess SPs' influence on inflammatory mediator production and gene expression.
Main Methods:
- Extraction and purification of SPs from Caulerpa cupressoides var. flabellata.
- Assessment of SPs' cytotoxicity on RAW 264.7 macrophages.
- Measurement of nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and cytokine (TNF-α, IL-6) production.
- Analysis of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) gene expression.
Main Results:
- SPs from C. cupressoides var. flabellata exhibited no cytotoxicity.
- SPs significantly increased the production of NO, ROS, TNF-α, and IL-6.
- Treatment with SPs led to elevated iNOS and COX-2 gene expression.
Conclusions:
- SPs from C. cupressoides var. flabellata demonstrate potent immunostimulatory activity.
- These SPs modulate macrophage inflammatory responses.
- The findings suggest potential biomedical applications for C. cupressoides var. flabellata SPs.

