Sugar constituents and blood-anticoagulant activities of fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides in nine brown seaweed species.

Fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharide (SPS) fractions were prepared from 85% methanol-treated materials of nine different species of brown seaweeds. They were extracted with diluted hydrochloric acid (pH 2) at room temperature and the extracts fractionated with aqueous 3% cetylpyridinum chloride and 2% CaCl2 solutions. Electrophoresis indicated that each of the obtained fractions consisted of more than two polymeric components. Chemical analysis and g. l. c. showed that each SPS fraction contained fucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, glucuronic acid and half ester sulfate as constituents. The proportions of the constituents varied widely from one fraction to another. Blood-anticoagulant activity tests were conducted on each SPS fraction with human or sheep plasma. The tests included thrombin time (TT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and anti-(factor Xa) activity in comparison with values of heparin (167 units/mg). When assayed for human plasma, all SPS fractions showed some TT(0-35 units/mg) and APTT (12-38 units/mg) activities, whereas anti-(factor Xa) activity was not remakable in any SPS fraction. Among the SPS fractions tested, that of Ecklonia kurome exhibited the highest activity with respect to TT (35 units/mg) and APTT (38 units/mg). When assayed for sheep plasma, the fraction of E. kurome showed higher activity than that determined for human plasma (activity with respect to TT and APTT was 120 and 95 units/mg).