Polysaccharides from macro algae: Anti-inflammatory actions against systemic inflammatory process and in the gastrointestinal tract

Sulfated polysaccharides (PLS) extracted from marine algae have important biological activities in different inflammatory models. They consist of a diverse group with great potential for discovering molecules with pharmacological and biotechnological properties, formed by heterogeneous macromolecules rich in galactose and characterized by the presence of sulfated groups in their chemical composition. Several studies using marine algae PLSs in inflammatory pathologies in different experimental models have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effects of these molecules, showing the reduction of oxidative stress parameters, cell migration, pro-inflammatory cytokines, macroscopic and microscopic criteria of tissue injury, in addition to of reduced nociception. In this sense, the present study aimed to determine the effects of sulfated polysaccharides from seaweeds, especially galactans, during general and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) inflammation through a systematic review.