Chemical studies on the polysaccharides of Salicornia brachiata.

A group of 12 polysaccharide extracts were prepared from the tips, stem and roots of an Indian halophyte Salicornia brachiata Roxb. obtained by sequential extractions with cold water (CW), hot water (HW), aqueous ammonium oxalate (OX) and aqueous sodium hydroxide (ALK) solutions. Monosaccharide composition analysis revealed that all the polysaccharide extract samples consisted primarily of rhamnose, arabinose, mannose, galactose, glucose, whereas ribose and xylose were present only in some of the extracts. All the extracts exhibited low apparent viscosity (1.47-2.02 cP) and sulphate and contained no prominent toxic metal ions. Fucose was detected only in OX extract of the roots. These polysaccharides were found to be heterogeneous and highly branched (glycoside linkage analysis, size-exclusion chromatography, (13)C-NMR, FT-IR, circular dichroism and optical rotation data). Physico-chemical analyses of these polysaccharides including uronic acid, sulphate and protein contents were also carried out. This constitutes the first report on the profiling of Salicornia polysaccharides.

Bioactivity of marine organisms: Part VIII--Screening of some marine flora of western coast of India.

Methanolic extracts of 31 botanically identified species of marine flora, collected from Gujarat Coast, have been screened for a wide range of biological activities. Of these, 3 extracts showed anti-implantation, 2 had antiviral, 2 showed hypotensive, 1 had anti-inflammatory while 12 extracts showed diuretic activities. The antiviral activity; against EMCV, was confirmed in one alga. The active principles and results of these studies are reported.