Cell wall polysaccharides of marine algae
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| Authors | | Top |
- Synytsya, A.
- Copíková, J.
- Kim, W.J.
- Park, Y.I.
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| Abstract |
Marine algae are interesting as a plentiful source of many bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides, which represent various structurally different polymers of high diversity in monosaccharide composition, absolute and anomeric configuration, glycosidic linkages, molecular mass, and the presence and distribution of various functional groups. These polysaccharides are used by algae as cell wall structural components or food reserve. Algal polysaccharides are highly indicative for main algal taxa. Sulfated galactans of periodical unit/linkage sequence (agars, carrageenans) are typical for red algae, alginates, and fucoidans for brown algae; sulfated glucuronoxylorhamnans (ulvans) and other sulphated glycans for green algae. Algal cell wall polysaccharides are extracted from the raw material and further purified by preparative chromatography and/or chemical treatment. Many algal polysaccharides are assigned as phycocolloids due to their good solubility in water and their ability to create colloid systems, including gels and films. They also demonstrate various biological activities (immunomodulation, antitumor, anticoagulant, antiviral, and many other activities), which are prerequisites of pharmaceutical and medicinal applications. Finally, initially inactive or weakly active natural algal polysaccharides can be partially degraded or structurally modified to be fitted to various medicinal applications. |
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