Freshwater plants synthesize sulfated polysaccharides: heterogalactans from Water Hyacinth (Eicchornia crassipes).
Sulfated polysaccharides (SP) are found mainly in seaweeds and animals. To date, they have only been found in six plants and all inhabit saline environments. Furthermore, there are no reports of SP in freshwater or terrestrial plants. As such, this study investigated the presence of SP in freshwaters Eichhornia crassipes, Egeria densa, Egeria naja, Cabomba caroliniana, Hydrocotyle bonariensis and Nymphaea ampla. Chemical analysis identified sulfate in N. ampla, H. bonariensis and, more specifically, E. crassipes. In addition, chemical analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, histological analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA), as well as agarose gel electrophoresis detected SP in all parts of E. crassipes, primarily in the root (epidermis and vascular bundle). Galactose, glucose and arabinose are the main monosaccharides found in the sulfated polysaccharides from E. crassipes. In activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) test, to evaluate the intrinsic coagulation pathway, SP from the root and rhizome prolonged the coagulation time to double the baseline value, with 0.1 mg/mL and 0.15 mg/mL, respectively. However, SP from the leaf and petiole showed no anticoagulant activity. Eichornia SP demonstrated promising anticoagulant potential and have been selected for further studies on bioguided fractionation; isolation and characterization of pure polysaccharides from this species. Additionally in vivo experiments are needed and are already underway.
Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Polymers (BIOPOL), Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil.|Health Post-Graduate Program, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil.
Nednaldo
N
Dantas-Santos
Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Polymers (BIOPOL), Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil.
Dayanne Lopes
DL
Gomes
Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Polymers (BIOPOL), Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil.
Leandro Silva
LS
Costa
Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Polymers (BIOPOL), Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil.
Sara Lima
SL
Cordeiro
Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Polymers (BIOPOL), Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil.
Mariana Santos Santana Pereira
MSSP
Costa
Department of Cell Biology, Federal University of Parana (UFPR), Curitiba-PR 81531-990, Brazil.
Edvaldo Silva
ES
Trindade
Department of Cell Biology, Federal University of Parana (UFPR), Curitiba-PR 81531-990, Brazil.
Célia Regina Chavichiolo
CRC
Franco
Department of Cell Biology and Genetic, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil.
Kátia Castanho
KC
Scortecci
Laboratory of Glycobiology, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil.
Edda Lisboa
EL
Leite
Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Polymers (BIOPOL), Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil.|Health Post-Graduate Program, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil.
Hugo Alexandre Oliveira
0000-0003-2252-1221
HAO
Rocha
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D031806:Eichhornia / Q000378:metabolism*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005685:Galactans / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013431:Sulfates / Q000737:chemistry*; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
D000925:Anticoagulants; D005685:Galactans; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013431:Sulfates; D013925:Thromboplastin