Araújo, R. V. S., M. R. Melo-Júnior, E. I. C. Beltrão, L. A. Mello, M. Iacomini, A. M. A. Carneiro-Leão, L. B. Carvalho Jr & N. S. Santos-Magalhães 2011: Evaluation of the antischistosomal activity of sulfated a-D-glucan from the lichen Ramalina celastri free and encapsulated into liposomes. - Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research44(4): 311-318. [RLL List # 223 / Rec.# 32816] Abstract: The antischistosomal activity of the sulfated polysaccharide a-D-glucan (Glu.SO4) extracted from Ramalina celastri was evaluated after encapsulation into liposomes (Glu.SO4-LIPO) in Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice. The effect of treatment with Glu.SO4 and Glu.SO4-LIPO (10 mg/kg) on egg elimination, worm burden and hepatic granuloma formation was assessed using female albino Swiss mice, 35-40 days of age, weighing 25 ± 2 g, infected with 150 cercariae/animal (Biomphalaria glabrata, BH strain). Four groups (N = 10) were studied, two controls (empty liposomes and NaCl) and two treated groups (Glu.SO4-LIPO and Glu.SO4) using a single dose. Parasitological analysis revealed that Glu.SO4-LIPO was as efficient as Glu.SO4 in reducing egg elimination and worm burden. Treatment with free Glu.SO4 and Glu.SO4-LIPO induced a statistically significant reduction in the number of granulomas (62 and 63%, respectively). Lectin histochemistry showed that wheat germ agglutinin intensely stained the egg-granuloma system in all treated groups. On the other hand, peanut agglutinin stained cells in the control groups, but not in the treated groups. The present results suggest a correlation between the decreasing number of hepatic egg-granulomas and the glycosylation profile of the egg-granuloma system in animals treated with free Glu.SO4 or Glu.SO4-LIPO.