Figure 2.

Typical structure of fucoidan (FCSPs) obtained from some brown seaweed species in the order of Fucales. The l-fucopyranose backbone of the fucoidan (FCSPs) extracted from A. nodosum and F. vesiculosus is connected by alternating α(1→3) and α(1→4) linkages [11]; The FCSPs from F. evanescens have a similar backbone built up with sulfate substituted at the 2- and 4-position of the fucose residues [20] (only sulfate substitutions on C-2 of fucose are shown in the Figure). Acetate substitutions may also be found at the C-4-position of 3-linked fucose and at C3 of 4-linked fucose units [22] (acetate substitutions not shown in the figure). For F. serratus L. a possible fucoside side chain at C-4 is also shown.