Method for the preparation of N-glycolyl neuraminic acid from Cucumaria echinata

Abstract

Disclosed is an efficient and economical method for the preparation of N-glycolyl neuraminic acid in a high purity from an inexpensive abundant source material. The method comprises dispersing body tissues of an echinodermatous marine animal Cucumaria echinata in an aqueous medium, preferably, using a dry powder of the tissues prepared in advance, in which the tissues are proteolytically decomposed to isolate N-glycolyl neuraminic acid in the form of an aqueous solution containing polypeptides as a by-product, followed by separation of N-glycolyl neuraminic acid from the aqueous solution by removing the polypeptides and purification of the compound in a process utilizing an ion-exchange treatments.

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