Blood anticoagulant activity of a green marine alga Codium dwarkense (Codiaceae, Chlorophyta) in relation to its growth stages

Codium dwarkense was sampled from Porbandar from December 1998 to April 199 9 and growth stages of each sample were examined. Sulphated polysaccharides (SPS) were extracted from each sample and blood anticoagulant activity was evaluated by Prothrombin Time (PT) test. Blood anticoagulant activity was minimum (CT ratio 1.75) in plants collected in vegetative stage without gam etangium (December), marginal in plants with 40-50% gametangia (January and February), CT ratio 2.43 and 3.00, respectively, highest (CT ratio 3.75) i n reproductive stage (March) where 100% gametangia were found. The activity again decreased (CT ratio 2.34) in lapse period with 98.3% gametangia (Apr il). The activity was directly associated with sugar and sulphate content, which were more in the SPS from plant with 100% gametangia. Therefore, it c an be concluded that biosynthesis of anticoagulant by C. dwarkense is assoc iated with abundance of its gametangia.