Characterization of Isolated Polysaccharide and Biochemical Attributes of Red Algae, Grateloupia filicina

The polymer extracted from the red alga Grateloupia filicina finds its use as an alternate and potential source of polysaccharide and other biochemical constituents for nutraceutical functions. Presently in this study, an attempt was made to analyze the carbohydrate, protein and lipid content in G. filicina. The total carbohydrate, protein and lipid contents varied from 40.1 to 58%, 10.1 to 8.65% and 0.21 to 1.0% on its dry weight basis, respectively. Seasonal variation was studied with respect to the yield and chemical constituents of the extracts like apparent viscosity, 3,6-anhydrogalactose, galactose and sulphate contents. FT-IR study revealed that the functional groups of the sulphated galactose from Grateloupia filicina resembles with that of the λ-carrageenan. The results obtained in this study indicated that the seaweed can be treated as an important indigenous resource for use in phycocolloid and nutraceutical industries.