Fucogalactan from the giant mushroom Macrocybe titans inhibits melanoma cells migration

Abstract An aqueous extract containing polysaccharides was obtained from the giant mushroom Macrocybe titans , and it was purified by amylase treatment, freeze-thawing process and dialysis. The purified fraction (ESP) was analyzed by HPSEC and GC–MS which showed a homogenous polysaccharide with M w 14.2 × 10 3  g/mol composed by galactose and fucose. NMR and methylation analysis of ESP confirmed the presence of a fucogalactan with a (1 → 6)-linked α- d -Gal p main chain partially substituted at O-2 by non reducing end units of α- l -Fuc p residues in the side chain. Its biological activity was evaluated against murine melanoma cells B16-F10. The fucogalactan did not alter the viability, proliferative capacity and morphology of cells. However, this polysaccharide was able to reduce the cell migration in vitro at 40% (100 μg/mL) and 33% (250 μg/mL). The results obtained showed that Macrocybe titans fucogalactan is a promising agent capable of altering melanoma cell migration without decrease the cell viability.