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Bioactive Sulfated Polysaccharides from Green Algae Codium tomentosum Stackhouse, 1797: Structural Characterization
Bouchra Benhniya1, Fatima Zahra Karmil2, Soukaina El Maliki1
1Laboratory of Marine Biotechnologies and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, Chouaib Doukkali University, BP 20, El Jadida 24000, Morocco.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|June 12, 2026
Summary
A polysaccharide fraction from the green seaweed Codium tomentosum exhibits potent antiviral, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. This natural extract shows promise for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications due to its multifunctional bioactivities.
Area of Science:
- Marine natural products
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Marine seaweeds are valuable sources of bioactive compounds, especially sulfated polysaccharides.
- These compounds possess significant potential for biomedical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To extract and characterize a sulfated polysaccharide fraction (PSCT) from the green seaweed Codium tomentosum.
- To evaluate the antiviral, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities of the isolated PSCT.
Main Methods:
- Extraction and chemical characterization of the polysaccharide fraction.
- Spectroscopic and morphological analyses (FTIR, XRD, UV-Vis, SEM-EDS).
- In vitro assays for antiviral (HSV1), antimicrobial (S. aureus, E. coli, C. albicans), and antioxidant (DPPH, FRAP) activities.
Main Results:
- PSCT extraction yield was 22.01%, rich in neutral sugars, sulfate, and uronic acids, with galactose and arabinose predominance.
- Demonstrated significant antiviral activity against HSV1 (EC50 = 12.22 µg/mL) with no cytotoxicity.
- Exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi (MICs 0.05–0.78 mg/mL) and moderate antioxidant capacity (DPPH IC50 = 1.25 mg/mL).
Conclusions:
- Codium tomentosum-derived sulfated polysaccharides (PSCT) possess significant multifunctional bioactivities.
- PSCT shows potential as a natural agent for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.
- Further research is warranted to explore the therapeutic applications of these marine-derived polysaccharides.
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