Clinical tests revealed that the decoction of Chondria armata (KÜTZING) OKAMURA (Rhodomelaceae) had a marked anthelmintic action and further examinations were made on the anthelmintic components of this seaweed. It was found that this anthelmintic principle transited from aqueous extract to hydrous methanol from which it is adsorbed on alumina and eluted from it by water. The principle is adsorbed on activated carbon from aqueous extract and eluted from it by methanol, or adsorbed on Amberlite IR-120 and eluted from it by alkali solution. Anthelmintic effective fraction was prepared by the use of these properties.
This effective fraction was submitted to paper partition chromatography and paper electrophoresis, and spots coloring yellow to ninhydrin were detected at Rf 0.31-0.32 and 0.54-0.56 in the former, and at migration distance of +52-+57 and +99-+102.
The behavior of the anthelmintic principles of Chondria armata was very similar to those (Rf 0.50 and migration distance +70) of kainic acid, the anthelmintic principle of Digenea. From these facts it was assumed that the anthelmintic principle of this seaweed is a substance related to kainic acid.