This study aimed to isolate, fractionate and evaluate the in vivo toxicity of sulfated polysaccharides (SPs) from Hypnea musciformis (Rhodophyta), when obtained by three extraction methods (M I, M II and M III). SPs were extracted with papain in 100mM sodium acetate (pH 5.0) containing cysteine and EDTA (5mM) (M I) or water (25-80°C (M II), 80°C (M III)), and then their chemical composition of total carbohydrates, free sulfate (FS) and contaminant proteins (CPs) was determined. SPs were submitted to ion-exchange chromatography (DEAE-celulose) using a sodium chloride gradient, being the degree of homogeneity and charge density evaluated by agarose gel electrophoresis of the fractions obtained and compared to heparin. The in vivo assay was performed using groups (n=6) of male and female Swiss mice (24-33g), which received: SPs (9mg kg-1, i.p.) absence of CPs (M I) and 0.9% saline (0.1mL 10g-1, i.p.), for 14 consecutive days. On the 15th day, collect blood and organs for biochemical dosages and corporal mass correlation, respectively, from the animals anesthetized and sacrificed were performed. The sulfate content of FS (31.05±0.53%) (P<0.05) and the fractionation by DEAE-cellulose showed M I more effectiveness in obtaining SPs compared to M II and M III. The animals were tolerable to SPs from M I, and it wasn't observed hepatic or renal alteration (P>0.05)
rhodophyta; sulfated polymers; extraction methods; systemic evaluation
