Great diversity and metabolite complexity of seaweeds offer a unique and exclusive source of renewable drug molecules. Polysaccharide from seaweed has potential as a promising candidate for marine drug development. In the present study, seaweed polysaccharide (SPm) was isolated from Monostroma angicava, the polymeric repeat units and anticoagulant property in vitro and in vivo of SPm were investigated. SPm was a sulfated polysaccharide which was mainly constituted by 3-linked, 2-linked-α-l-rhamnose residues with partially sulfate groups at C-2 of 3-linked α-l-rhamnose residues and C-3 of 2-linked α-l-rhamnose residues. Small amounts of xylose and glucuronic acid exist in the forms of β-d-Xylp(4SO₄)-(1→ and β-d-GlcA-(1→. SPm effectively prolonged clotting time as evaluated by the activated partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time assays, and exhibited strong anticoagulant activity in vitro and in vivo. The fibrin(ogen)olytic and thrombolytic properties of SPm were evaluated by plasminogen activator inhibitior-1, fibrin degradation products, D-dimer and clot lytic rate assays using rats plasma, and the results showed that SPm possessed high fibrin(ogen)olytic and thrombolytic properties. These results suggested that SPm has potential as a novel anticoagulant agent.

The active sulfated polysaccharide from seaweed possesses important pharmaceutical and biomedical potential. In the study, Monostroma sulfated polysaccharide (MSP) was obtained from Monostroma angicava, and the low-molecular-weight fragments of MSP (MSP-Fs: MSP-F1–MSP-F6) were prepared by controlled acid degradation. The molecular weights of MSP and MSP-F1–MSP-F6 were 335 kDa, 240 kDa, 90 kDa, 40 kDa, 24 kDa, 12 kDa, and 6.8 kDa, respectively. The polysaccharides were sulfated rhamnans that consisted of →3)-α-l-Rhap-(1→ and →2)-α-l-Rhap-(1→ units with partial sulfation at C-2 of →3)-α-l-Rhap-(1→ and C-3 of →2)-α-l-Rhap-(1→. Anticoagulant properties in vitro of MSP and MSP-F1–MSP-F6 were evaluated by studying the activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, and prothrombin time. Anticoagulant activities in vivo of MSP and MSP-F4 were further evaluated; their fibrin(ogen)olytic activities in vivo and thrombolytic properties in vitro were also assessed by D-dimer, fibrin degradation products, plasminogen activator inhibitior-1, and clot lytic rate assays. The results showed that MSP and MSP-F1–MSP-F4 with molecular weights of 24–240 kDa had strong anticoagulant activities. A decrease in the molecular weight of MSP-Fs was accompanied by a decrease in the anticoagulant activity, and higher anticoagulant activity requires a molecular weight of over 12 kDa. MSP and MSP-F4 possessed strong anticoagulant activities in vivo, as well as high fibrin(ogen)olytic and thrombolytic activities. MSP and MSP-F4 have potential as drug or helpful food supplements for human health.