Heparinoid-active two sulfated polysaccharides isolated from marine green algae Monostroma nitidum

Two sulfated polysaccharides WF1 and WF3 were isolated from marine green algae Monostroma nitidum, and their structural characteristics were determined. Anticoagulant activities of WF1 and WF3 were evaluated by assays of the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT). prothrombin time (PT), antithrombin and anticoagulation factor Xa activities. The results showed that WF1 and WF3 had similar high contents of rhamnose, whereas their sulfate contents, sulfation positions, molecular sizes and linkage patterns of rhamnose residues were different. The bioassay results demonstrated that WF1 and WF3 had high anticoagulant activities, and were potent thrombin inhibitors mediated by heparin cofactor 11, especially WF3. They also hastened thrombin and coagulation factor Xa inhibition by potentiating antithrombin III, but at a lower effectiveness. The differences of anticoagulant activities between WF1 and WF3 were directly due to their structural features discrepancy. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.