Bioassay-guided extraction of crude fucose-containing sulphated polysaccharides from Sargassum fusiforme with response surface methodology

The response surface methodology (RSM) combined with bioassays was employed to optimize the extraction process of crude fucose-containing sulphated polysaccharides (cFCSP) from Sargassum fusiforme. The central composite design (CCD) was used with four variables, five levels, and four responses. The four variables were pH value of hydrochloric acid solution, extraction temperature (°C), ratio of liquid to raw material (mL g−1), and extraction time (h), respectively. Chemical and bioassay indices were used in combination as the response parameters, which included the yield of cFCSP, fucose content, proliferation rate of spleen cells, and lipopolysaccharide-induced proliferation of splenocytes. The experimental data were fitted to a second-order polynomial equation using multiple regression analysis, and examined using the appropriate statistical methods. The best extraction conditions were as follows: the pH value of hydrochloric acid solution was 3.50; the extraction temperature was 100°C; the ratio of liquid to raw material was 15.00 mL g−1 and the extraction time was 2.50 h. The experimental yield was close to the predicted from the model. The extract could promote spleen lymphocyte proliferation, especially the lipopolysaccharide-induced lymphocyte proliferation in vitro, which suggested that its immunomodulatory effect on B lymphocytes. Therefore, cFCSP extracted from S. fusiforme could be utilized as an immunostimulant in functional foods and pharmaceutical industry in future.