Extraction And Identification Of Sulfated Polysaccharide From Gracilaria sp.

Abstract

Polysaccharide from Gracilaria sp (locally known as “Sayur Karang”) was extracted using hot alkaline solutions (NaOH and KOH). Fractionation using DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow column showed that the polysaccharide discharged after being eluted with 0.5 – 1.0 M NaCl. Spectroscopic analysis using FTIR showed that the polysaccharide contained hydroxyl  (3420 cm-1 (NaOH frcation) dan 3446 cm-1 (KOH frcation)), carbonyl (1642 cm-1 (NaOH frcation) and 1644 cm-1 (KOH frcation)) and sulphate (1271 cm-1 (NaOH frcation) and 1262 cm-1 (KOH frcation)) groups proving that the polysaccharide is a sulphated polysaccharide. A further study is needed to elucidate the structure of the sulphated polysaccharide as well as physiochemical properties of the polysaccharide.