A homogeneous polysaccharide named as TC-1 was obtained from kelp by DEAE-cellulose and gel filtration chromatography. Its chemical structure was characterized by means of monosaccharide composition analysis, methylation analysis and IR spectroscopic analysis. TC-1 was a complex sulfated polysaccharide with a weight-average molecular weight of 3.7 × 105. TC-1 mainly consisted of fucose and small amounts of xylose, mannose, glucose and galactose were also found. The chain of TC-1 included 1,4-linked or 1,3-linked fucose, 1,3-linked xylose, 1,3-linked or 1,6-linked mannose, 1,3,4-linked or 1,2,4,6-linked glucose, and 1,6- linked,1,3,6- linked, or 1,3,4,6- linked galactose.