Synthesis and anticoagulant activity of sulfated pectin

Abstract

Pectin, a heteropolysaccharide made up of three major components; homogalacturonan (HG), rhamnogalacturonan type I (RG-I) and rhamnogalacturonan type II (RG-II), is derived from cell wall of higher terrestrial plants. The pectin was submitted to chemical modification specifically sulfation and anticoagulant activity of the sulfated pectin was investigated. Successful replacement of hydroxyl groups of pectin with sulfate groups was confirmed by degree of sulfation (DS) and Fourier fransform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra of absorption bands at 830 (S=O) and 1242 (C-O-S) cm-1. Sulfated pectin (PecS) and hydrolyzed sulfated pectin (PecHS) demonstrated significantly prolonging activated partial thrombosis time (APTT) of 179 and 63.5 seconds, respectively, at a concentration of 50 ?g ml-1. The PecS elevated prothrombin time (PT) to 54 seconds at a concentration of 250 ?g ml-1 compared to native pectin that had no significant anticoagulant effect. The result indicated the inhibition of intrinsic pathway according to the prolonged APTT. The extrinsic coagulation pathways could be inhibited with PecS at high concentrations according to an increase of prolonged PT.