RESUMO
Sulfated polysaccharides (SPs) have attracted growing interest for various biotechnological applications. We evaluated the efficiency of two methods of drying SPs (M I and II) extracted from Halymenia sp Rhodophyceae in order to compare the yield, purification and anticoagulant activity. The total SPs (TSPs) were first extracted with papain in 100 mM sodium acetate (pH 5.0) containing cysteine and EDTA (5 mM). The TSPs obtained were dried in an oven (M I) or lyophilized (M II) and then examined by ion exchange chromatography (DEAE-cellulose) using the NaCl gradient technique. The fractions were analyzed by 0.5% agarose gel electrophoresis and the in vitro anticoagulant activity was evaluated by the activated partial thromboplastin time test using normal human plasma and compared to heparin (HEP) (193.00 IU mg-1). There was a difference in TSP yield of 19.05% and similar chromatographic SP profiles. Electrophoresis revealed fractions with distinct resolutions. The fractions eluted with 0.75 M of salt (M I and II) were the most active, measuring 27.40 and 72.66 IU mg-1, respectively, when compared to HEP. Therefore, obtaining SP with anticoagulant activity from Halymenia sp. is more efficient by freeze-drying.