Ultrasound Depolymerization and Characterization of Poly- and Oligosaccharides from the Red Alga Solieria Chordalis

This study investigated the depolymerization of ι-carrageenan from the red alga Solieria chordalis using ultrasound and hydrogen peroxide to produce low-weight carrageenans with enhanced biological properties. The ultrasound method yielded fractions with an average molecular weight of 50 kDa and higher sulfate content (16% and 33%) compared to the hydrogen peroxide method (7 kDa, 6% and 9%). The bioactivity of these polysaccharides and low-molecular-weight fractions was tested on human fibroblasts, showing no effect on cell proliferation and no cytotoxicity. The research underscores the potential of ultrasound depolymerization as a green method to produce non-cytotoxic carrageenan fractions with diverse biochemical compositions.