POLYSACCHARIDES OF ALGAE .47. ISOLATION O F FUCOIDAN FRACTIONS FROM THE BROWN SEAWEED LAMINARIA-CICHORIOIDES MIYABE

D-Mannitol (yield 8.7% of dry biomass), laminaran (10.4%), sodium algi nate (11.2%), and three fractions of fucoidan (11.2, 5.3, and 2.7%) we re isolated by fractional extraction of the brown seaweed Laminaria ci chorioides. The heterogeneity of the fucoidan preparations was demonst rated by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex. A purified fuco idan with high fucose and sulfate content and low levels of other neut ral monosaccharides and uronic acids was isolated by a simplified proc edure using extraction of the seaweed with diluted hydrochloric acid f ollowed by precipitation with Cetavlon and chromatography on DEAE-Seph adex.