This study aimed to isolate, fractionate and evaluate the anticoagulant potential of iota-carrageenans (i-CARs) from Solieria filiformis when two extraction methods (M I and M II) were used. i-CARs were isolated with papain in 0.1M sodium acetate (pH 5.0) containing 5mM cystein and 5mM EDTA (M I) or water (80°C) (M II), and then their chemical composition of total carbohydrates, free sulfate (FS) and contaminant proteins were determined. i-CARs were submitted to anion-exchange chromatography (DEAE-cellulose) using a sodium chloride gradient,being evaluated the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time of obtained fractions and compared to heparin (193IU mg-1). A rich fraction of anticoagulant was also submitted to 0.5% agarose gel electrophoresis procedure. The difference of yield between methods was 10.14%. The chemical composition of FS (29.40%) and the fractionation by DEAE-cellulose showed M I more effectiveness in the obtaining of i-CARs compared to M II. The APTT was also modified for i-CARs from M I. However, the in vitro anticoagulant activity of a rich fraction (8.52IU mg-1) was inferior to heparin.
Rhodophyceae; sulfated polysaccharides; APTT; extraction methods