Increase in anti-inflammatory activities of radical-degraded porphyrans isolated from discolored nori (Pyropia yezoensis)

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The anti-inflammatory properties of porphyrans (D1–D4) obtained from four discolored nori (Pyropia yezoensis) with different growth backgrounds were studied to examine possible variations in their bioactivities. Elution profiles of the porphyrans on Sepharose 4B indicated that D2-porphyran had relatively lower-molecular-size porphyrans than the other porphyrans. Inhibitory activities of the four porphyrans against nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) secretion by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells were different, whereas no significant differences were observed in the sulfate and anhydrogalactose levels. D2-porphyran showed the highest inhibitory activity against NO and TNF-α secretion by LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, whereas D3- and D4-porphyrans had almost no activity. All porphyrans were efficiently degraded by free radical generated with ascorbate and hydrogen peroxide. The free-radical degradation resulted in a significant increase in the inhibitory activities of the four porphyrans against NO and TNF-α secretion, with varying rates depending on the porphyrans. The ability of D2-porphyran to suppress the receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis in RAW264.7 cells was also significantly enhanced after degradation. Our results suggest that molecular size is an important factor affecting the anti-inflammatory activity of porphyrans, and radical degradation might be a promising procedure to obtain active low-molecular-size porphyrans.