Abstract

We described the simple, selective, and rapid method for determination of fucoidans using methylene blue staining of sulfated polysaccharides, immobilized into filter paper and consequent optic density (at A 663 nm) measurement of the eluted dye from filter paper. This solid-phase method allows selective determination of 1–20 μg fucoidan in presence of potentially interfering compounds (alginic acid, DNA, salts, proteins, and detergents). Further, we demonstrated the alternative way of using image processing software for fucoidan quantification without extraction of methylene blue dye from stained spots of fucoidan–dye complex.