A sulfated galactan with antioxidant capacity from the green variant of tetrasporic Gigartina skottsbergii (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta)

The water soluble polysaccharide produced by the green variant of tetrasporic Gigartina skottsbergii was found to be composed of D-galactose and sulfate groups in a molar ratio of 1.0:0.65. H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy studies of the desulfated polysaccharide showed a major backbone structure of alternating 3-linked beta-D-galactopyranosyl and 4-linked alpha-D-galactopyranosyl units, and minor signals ascribed to 3-O-methyl-substitution on the latter unit. Ethylation analysis of the polysaccharide indicated that the sulfate groups are mainly located at position O-2 of 4-linked alpha-D-galactopyranosyl residue and partially located at positions O-6 of the same unit and at position O-2 of 3-linked beta-D-galactopyranosyl residue, and confirmed the presence of 3-O-methyl-galactose in minor amounts (4.4%). The sulfated D-galactan presents a similar structure to X carrageenan but with much lower sulfation at position O-6 of the a-residue and at position O-2 of beta-residue. The antioxidant capacity of the sulfated D-galactan was evaluated by the peroxyl radicals (ORAC method), hydroxyl radicals, chelating activity, and ABTS(.+) assays. Kinetic results obtained in these assays were compared with those obtained for the commercial lambda carrageenan. The antioxidant activity toward peroxyl radicals was higher for commercial lambda carrageenan, this agrees with its higher content of sulfate group. The kinetics of the reaction of both polysaccharides with hydroxyl and ABTS(.+) radicals showed a complex mechanism, but the antioxidant activity was higher for the polysaccharide from the green variant of tetrasporic Gigartina skottsbergii. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.