Low molecular weight chondroitin sulfate for body absorption was prepared by gamma irradiation-induced degradation of dried high viscosity average molecular weight (M[subscript v]) chondroitin sulfate of 78.105 kDa obtained by papain enzymatic extraction of chicken keel cartilages at room temperature-pressure. Optimum radiation dose to reduce M[subscript v] to 10 – 20 kDa was in the range of 317 – 500 kGy. Characterization and molecular weight determination of the obtained chondroitin sulfate were done by FTIR and Ubbelohde Viscometer respectively. The average G([subscript s]) –value for chondroitin sulfate calculated from this experiment was about 1.8.