[Effects of a polysaccharide extracted from a red alga (Bonnemaisonales) on mononucleate phagocytes in several...

"Armatan" an acidic sulfated polysaccharide isolated from a red algae (Asparagopsis Armata), has a marked affinity for the Mononuclear Phagocytes System. Its activity seems fairly well established. Indeed, it sets off a series of evolutionary cellular processes beginning with an accumulation of monocytes at the inflammatory injection site; these cells are then replaced by macrophages over several weeks which are progressively substituted by fibroblasts, thereby inducing a final fibro-cicatricial reaction. The inductive effect of Armatan in this cellular evolution is discussed.