Sulfated ß-d-mannan from green seaweed Codium vermilara.

ß-(1→4)-d-Mannans constitute the major component of the cell wall of seaweeds of the genus Codium and replace cellulose as the major fibrillar component. They were found as major constituents of the hot water extracts of green seaweed Codium vermilara. By anion exchange chromatography of the first hot water extract, a pure sulfated mannan with a molar ratio carbohydrates:sulfate of 2.7:1 was isolated. The sulfate groups are linked to C-2 of 23% of the mannose units, while most of these units are not substituted. This degree of sulfation would explain the higher solubility of the polymer, compared to that of the non-sulfated fibrillar mannan. Taking into account that the fibrillar polysaccharides form two external layers in the cell wall, while the sulfated polymers are forming an amorphous central layer, it is postulated that these sulfated mannans could act as an interphase region between the neutral and acidic layers.

Polysaccharides from the green seaweeds Codium fragile and C. vermilara with controversial effects on hemostasis.

Codium fragile and Codium vermilara biosynthesize water-soluble sulfated arabinans and galactans (and/or sulfated arabinogalactans), alpha(1-->4)-D-glucans and beta(1-->4)-D-mannans. The former polysaccharides are composed by 3-linked beta-D-galactopyranose and beta-L-arabinopyranose residues, they are highly sulfated and substituted with pyruvic acid ketals. For both seaweeds, they have the same main structural units, but in different percentages. All the room-temperature water extracts from both seaweeds showed a dual haemostatic effect: they prevented coagulation, but they induced platelet aggregation. Anticoagulant activity and platelet aggregation were higher in the samples with polysaccharides richer in sulfate, mainly in those from C. vermilara, which have a higher degree of sulfation and arabinose content.