Algal extract comprising sulphated and non-sulphated polyanionic polysaccharides and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to an algal extract comprising sulphated and non-sulphated polyanionic polysaccharides, to a method for preparing an algal extract as well as to its therapeutic and prophylactic applications.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . An extract of green algae of the type  Ulva  comprising sulphated and non-sulphated polyanionic polysaccharides of a size that is less than or equal to 50 kDa. 
     
     
         21 . The algal extract according to  claim 20 , wherein said polysaccharides comprise mannose, arabinose, or mannose and arabinose. 
     
     
         22 . The algal extract according to  claim 21 , wherein the mannose, if present, is at an amount that is at least 0.005% by weight based on the weight of the total dry material of the algal extract, and the arabinose, if present, is at an amount that is at least 0.005% by weight based on the weight of the total dry material of the algal extract. 
     
     
         23 . The algal extract according to  claim 21 , wherein the mannose, if present, is at an amount in the range of 0.01 to 0.20% by weight based on the weight of the total dry material of the algal extract, and the arabinose, if present, is at an amount that is in the range of 0.01 to 0.5% by weight based on the weight of the total dry material of the algal extract. 
     
     
         24 . The algal extract according to  claim 20 , wherein said polysaccharides comprise galactose, glucose, rhamnose, xylose, and glucuronic acid. 
     
     
         25 . The algal extract according to  claim 24 , wherein the galactose is at an amount in the range of 0.05 to 0.5% by weight based on the weight of the total dry material of the algal extract, the glucose is at an amount in the range of 0.005 to 0.05% by weight based on the weight of the total dry material of the algal extract, the rhamnose is at an amount in the range of 2 to 15% by weight based on the weight of the total dry material of the algal extract, the xylose is at an amount in the range of 0.1 to 1% by weight based on the weight of the total dry material of the algal extract, and the glucuronic acid is at an amount in the range of 1 to 7% by weight based on the weight of the total dry material of the algal extract. 
     
     
         26 . The algal extract according to  claim 20 , wherein the size of said polysaccharides is less than or equal to 15 kDa. 
     
     
         27 . The algal extract according to  claim 20 , comprising:
 carbon at an amount in the range of 10 to 50%;   hydrogen at an amount in the range of 1 to 10%;   nitrogen at an amount in the range of 1 to 5%;   oxygen at an amount in the range of 20 to 50%; and   sulphur at an amount in the range of 1 to 15%;   
       in weight percentage of the total dry material of the algal extract. 
     
     
         28 . The algal extract according to  claim 20 , comprising:
 carbon at an amount in the range of 15 to 30%;   hydrogen at an amount in the range of 3 to 6%;   nitrogen at an amount in the range of 1 to 3%;   oxygen at an amount in the range of 25 to 40%; and   sulphur at an amount in the range of 2.5 to 10%;   
       in weight percentage of the total dry material of the algal extract. 
     
     
         29 . The algal extract according to  claim 20 , characterized by the  1 H NMR spectrum in  FIG. 1 . 
     
     
         30 . A method for preparing an extract of green algae of the type  Ulva  comprising:
 washing the algae so that it is free of sand;   crushing the washed algae to form a crushed product comprising a solid phase and a liquid phase;   separating the solid phase and the liquid phase;   clarifying the separated liquid phase;   ultrafiltering the clarified liquid phase on a membrane of less than 50 kDa to form a filtration juice;   concentrating the filtration juice to form a concentrated juice; and   drying the concentrated juice to form the extract.   
     
     
         31 . The method for preparing an algal extract according to  claim 30 , wherein the membrane is a 15 kDa membrane. 
     
     
         32 . The method for preparing an algal extract according to  claim 30 , wherein the solid phase and liquid phase are separated by pressing the crushed product. 
     
     
         33 . The method for preparing an algal extract according to  claim 30 , wherein:
 the algae are washed in freshwater; and/or   the washed algae are crushed with a refiner; and/or   the solid phase and liquid phased are separated by pressing the crushed product with a belt press; and/or   the separated liquid phase is clarified with a clarifier having disc stacks; and/or   the clarified liquid phase is ultrafiltrated on a 15 kDa ceramic membrane; and/or   the filtration juice is concentrated by evaporation; and/or   the concentrated juice is dried by freeze-drying or atomization.   
     
     
         34 . An extract of green algae of the type  Ulva  obtained by a method comprising:
 washing the algae so that it is free of sand;   crushing the washed algae to form a crushed product comprising a solid phase and a liquid phase;   separating the solid phase and the liquid phase;   clarifying the separated liquid phase;   ultrafiltering the clarified liquid phase on a membrane of less than 50 kDa to form a filtration juice;   concentrating the filtration juice to form a concentrated juice; and   drying the concentrated juice to form the extract.   
     
     
         35 . An extract of green algae of the type  Ulva  comprising sulphated and non-sulphated polyanionic polysaccharides of a size that is less than or equal to 50 kDa, wherein the extract is obtained by a method comprising:
 washing the algae so that it is free of sand;   crushing the washed algae to form a crushed product comprising a solid phase and a liquid phase;   separating the solid phase and the liquid phase;   clarifying the separated liquid phase;   ultrafiltering the clarified liquid phase on a membrane of less than 50 kDa to form a filtration juice;   concentrating the filtration juice to form a concentrated juice; and   drying the concentrated juice to form the extract.   
     
     
         36 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising an extract of green algae of the type  Ulva  comprising sulphated and non-sulphated polyanionic polysaccharides of a size that is less than or equal to 50 kDa and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 
     
     
         37 . A method of preventing a subject from suffering from, or treating a subject suffering from, neurological disorders, depression, stress, anxiety, neuropathic and inflammatory chronic pain, skin pain, or body pain, or treating a subject in need of improvement of memory to prevent or treat aging or Alzheimer's disease, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an extract of green algae of the type  Ulva  comprising sulphated and non-sulphated polyanionic polysaccharides of a size that is less than or equal to 50 kDa.