Sulfated Galactans of Champia indica and Champia parvula (Rhodymeniales,Rhodophyta) of Indian Waters

Sulfated galactans of the red seaweed species Champia indica and Champia parvula of Indian waters were extracted and purified by ion exchange chromatography. These were characterized by infrared and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy as well as by GC-MS analysis of alditol acetate derivatives produced by reductive hydrolysis/acetylation of sulfated and desulfated and their methylated samples. The sulfated galactans of these Champia species contained alternating β-(1→3)-linked galactopyranosyl units with sulfation at the 2-position and α-(1→4)-linked galactopyranosyl units having sulfation at both the 2- and 3-positions. Other minor substitutions included 6-O-methyl ether of the β-(1→3)-linked galactose residues only in Champia parvula.