Chondroitin Sulphate Sodium

Chondroitin sulphate sodium is not a small molecule but a sulphated glycosaminoglycan - a long chain of alternating D-glucuronic acid and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine units, beta-1,3 and beta-1,4 linked, carrying sulphate mainly at the 4-position (type A) and the 6-position (type C). Chains commonly run past a hundred sugar units; terrestrial material typically sits below 45 kDa while shark-derived material reaches around 70 kDa and carries a higher proportion of disulphated units. Thovek supplies to the USP article: assay 90.0-105.0% chondroitin sulphate sodium on the dried basis by CPC titration, specific rotation -20.0° to -30.0°, pH 5.5 to 7.5 in a 1 in 100 solution, loss on drying not more than 10.0%, residue on ignition 20.0-30.0% and protein not more than 6.0%. Because it comes out of cartilage, origin is a compliance question before it is a commercial one. The USP article covers bovine, porcine and avian cartilage, with a separate article for shark material. Bovine grades need BSE/TSE documentation and sourcing from herds in negligible-risk countries, in line with the EMA note for guidance on minimising TSE risk; porcine is out for halal and kosher programmes; avian, generally chicken sternal cartilage, is the usual answer where both certifications are required; shark and other fish-derived material has to be declared as a fish allergen and travels with species and CITES paperwork. No grade of this ingredient is vegan or vegetarian, and animal-origin consignments need the destination market's veterinary health certification alongside the commercial documents. Purity is where this ingredient is won or lost. CPC titration on its own can be satisfied by other polyanions, and oversulphated chondroitin sulphate and cheaper glycosaminoglycans have a documented history in this supply chain, so the USP electrophoretic purity test - not more than 2% of any individual impurity - is run and reported alongside chloride, sulphate, heavy metals and the microbiological panel; orthogonal enzymatic or SAX-HPLC confirmation is available where a buyer's specification calls for it. The powder is strongly hygroscopic and should stay in a sealed liner, with foil-laminate packing available for humid destinations. Every lot ships with CoA, species and origin declaration, TSE/BSE statement, allergen statement and, where the programme calls for it, halal or kosher certification.