Fish gills of Thunnus albacares: A novel source of chondroitin sulphate glycosaminoglycans

Abstract

Fish gills of Thunnus albacares have been chosen as a unique source of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in this study. Chemical and physical characterization were carried out by ATR – FTIR spectroscopy, DEAE - Cellulose anion exchange chromatography, SAX – HPLC, and NMR techniques to determine the nature of GAG isolated. The results showed that the isolated GAGs (8.5mg/g yield) were mostly Chondroitin sulphate (CS) type. SAX HPLC chromatogram of isolated GAG and CS A standard showed comparable peaks A at 4.9, B at 7.8 and C at 9.99 min. FTIR spectra, IR (KBr) υ max in cm-1 presented characteristic peaks of –CONH vibration of amide group, coupling of C–O stretching vibration, S=O stretching vibrations and –C–O–S molecules confirmed the presence of CS type GAG in T. albacaresgills.1H NMR spectra in D2Oalso revealed the presence of CS moiety. All these results substantiate T. albacares gills as an excellent source of CS type GAG.