Inhibitory effect on the activation of hyaluronidase contained in an edible blue-green alga, Nostochopsis sp. (Cyanophyta)

Abstract

The inhibitory effect on the activation of hyaluronidase contained in an edible blue-green alga, Nostochopsis sp. (Cyanophyta) was evaluated in this study. The half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of ethanol-insoluble fractions of aqueous extract from two lots of the alga were 0.0276 mg ml^-1 and 0.0259 mg ml^-1, respectively. The IC₅₀ of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG), usually used as an anti-allergy, was 0.1132 mg ml^-1. The IC₅₀ of the ethanol-insoluble fraction was only about 25％ of that. Thus, some strong anti-allergy substances seem to be included in the aqueous extract of Nostochopsis sp.