Structural characterization and anti-thrombotic properties of fucoidan from Nemacystus decipiens

The sulfated polysaccharide NP2 was isolated and purified from Nemacystus decipiens, the structure and antithrombotic activity of NP2 was further studied. NP2 was composed of fucose, glucuronic acid, galactose and xylose at molar ratios of 76.3:20.5:1.5:1.7. ES-CID-MS/MS results showed that NP2 had a backbone of α (1 → 3)-linked fucose and a branch was composed of Fuc-(2 → 1)-GlcA, which was agree with the results of NMR and methylation analysis. The results also show that the sulfate groups were substituted at the C2 or C4 positions of the fucose residues. In addition, analysis of the antithrombotic activity results indicated that NP2 can increase the percentage of t-PA/PAI-1, thereby suggesting that NP2 has high fibrinolytic activity and should be explored as a novel antithrombotic agent.