ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF KAPPA CARRAGEENAN FROM HYPNEA MUSCIFORMIS (RED ALGAE) OF KARACHI COAST

Hypnea musciformis collected from karachi coast of pakistan was used for isolation of a thickening andemulsifying agent “carrageenan”. various extraction procedures (extraction 1-6) were employed and theyield of carrageenan obtained was in the range 34-44%. total sugar was found 31.8-55.4%, 3,6-anhydrogalactose of total sugar was in the range of 19.9-27.6%. sulphate and ash content were high 14.8-41% and 15.4-53% respectively. the positive rotation of these polysaccharides indicated a predominanceof α-d glycosidic linkages in their structure. ir spectral studies showed kappa carrageenan as majorphycolloid with a very small contaminant of iota type carrageenan, λ type was not detected.polysaccharide obtained showed a positive elicitor activity in garden peas (pisum sativum). hplcanalysis provided a single major component.