Extraction and anticoagulant activity of sulfated polysaccharides fromCaulerpa cupressoides var. lycopodium (Vahl) C. Agardh (Chlorophyceae) / Extração e atividade anticoagulante dos polissacarídeos sulfatados da clorofícea Caulerpa cupressoides var. lycopodium (Vahl) C. Agardh

ABSTRACT

The reportedly low standard quality of heparin (HEP) for use in cardiac surgerieshas led to concern in the Brazilian and international markets. Sulfated polysaccharides (SPs) fromseaweeds have been regarded as promising substitutes for HEP. The aim of this study was tosequentially extract total SPs (TSPs) from Caulerpa cupressoides (Chlorophyceae) with papain in 100mM sodium acetate buffer (pH 5.0) containing 5 mM cysteine and 5 mM EDTA, followed byfractionation by ion-exchange chromatography (DEAE-cellulose), and then evaluate theanticoagulant potential of SP fractions by activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) usingnormal human plasma and compare it to standard HEP (193 IU mg-1). The obtained fractions werechemically characterized by chemical composition and agarose gel electrophoresis. The yield was4.61%, and three fractions of SP (F I, F II and F III) eluted with 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 M of NaCl,respectively, were observed on chromatography profiles; however, differences in charge densitiespatterns and degree of resolution among them were revealed by electrophoresis. SPs were capableof modifying APTT only in fractions eluted with 0.75 M of NaCl, whose activities were 23.37 and25.76 IU mg-1, respectively, and the charge density was prerequisite to activity. Therefore, C.cupressoides is a source of SPs possessing low anticoagulant potential compared to HEP.(AU)