Soluble ?-1,3/1,6-Glucan in Seaweed from the Southern Hemisphere and Its Immunomodulatory Effect

Five types of macroalgae from the southern hemisphere were analysed for the presence of ?-1,3/1,6-glucan and its immunostimulant properties. We were able to extract soluble ?-1,3/1,6-d-glucan from Durvillaea antarctica (Chamisso) Hariot (DA). The morphology of the brown algae influenced extraction, and the highest percentage of ?-glucan was found in the fronds. The content of ?-glucan in the stipes and holdfast was on average 33% and