• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 1998

Uronate compositions and molecular weights of alginates from the four kinds of brown algae, sea mustard (Undaria pinnatifida), sea tangle (Laminaria japonica), gulf weed (Sargassum fulvellum), and seaweed fusiforme (Hizikia fusiforme), in regard with the harvesting season were investigated. Sea mustard contained the highest amount of alginates in the four kinds of brown algae. D-Mannuronic acid to L-guluronic acid (M/C) ratio of the alginates was high in order of seaweed fusiforme, gulf weed, sea mustard, and sea tangle, and especially in water-soluble alginate. Molecular weights of the alginates were greater with the growing period ranging in $4,500\~4,800\;kDa$ for sea tangle, $4,000\~4,200\;kDa$ for sea mustard, $3,300\~3,400\;kDa$ for seaweed fusiforme, and $3,000\~3,200\;kDa$ for gulfweed. In water-soluble alginate of sea mustard, M/G ratio was much higher in sporophyll than in midrib and blade.