Degradation of sulfated polysaccharide from Eucheuma striatum and its inhibition on urinary mineral calcium oxalate

Algal Eucheuma striatum sulfated polysaccharide was degraded by hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) from average molecular weight of 1 410 000±83 000 to 4 819±440 or so.The mass fraction(w) of sulfate group(OSO2-3) decreased from 16.03% to 15.20%.The effects of ESPS before and after degradation on crystal growth of calcium oxalate(CaOxa) were investigated in vitro.The size and number of CaOxa crystals induced by degraded ESPS were much smaller than those of the undegraded polysaccharide,and the edges and angles of the former were much rounder and blunter.That is,the ESPS with a low molecular weight could more inhibit the nucleation and growth of CaOxa crystals.