On decomposition, cellulose produces gum and mucilage. Pectin, methoxy ester of
aldobionic acid and pectic acid, is obtained from the inner portion of the skin of
citrus fruits, pectins are polyuronides and made of pectic substances such as pectinic acid, protopectin, and calcium pectate. Another viscous sticky material known
as mucilage obtained from maximum plants protect the plant by thickening the
membranes in plants. It helps to store water and food and also helps in the germination of seed. It is chemically a polar glycoprotein and an exo-polysaccharide.
Mucilage mainly acts as a demulcent. The important sources of mucilage are Cactus
(and other succulents) and L. usitatissimum (flax seeds). The extract of the
mucilaginous root of the marshmallow plant exhibits a demulcent effect and hence
used as a cough suppressant in respiratory tract infection. When mucilage comes in
direct contact with the mucous membrane surface, it acts as an emollient (Kokate
et al. 2005; Khowala et al. 2008).
The water-soluble portion approximately 85% of guar gum obtained from the
powder of the endosperm of Cyamopsis tetragonolobus is called guaran. On
hydrolysis, it gives 65% of galactose and 35% of mannose. Honey, a saturated
solution of sugar, deposited in the honeycomb by Apis mellifera (bees) is used as a
demulcent, antiseptic to burns and wounds, and also as a sweetening agent.
Tragacanth, obtained by incision from branches of Astragalus gummifer belonging
to the family Leguminosae, has pharmaceutical importance as a suspending agent,
the binding agent in tablets, emollient in cosmetics. Chitin is also a polysaccharide
derivative having acetyl and amino groups and are found in skeletal of invertebrates. Chitin is employed in wound healing products and is used in water treatment
plants. Agar, also known as vegetable gelatin, obtained from Gelidium amansii has
two polysaccharides such as agarose and agaropectin. Agarose provides gel strength
of the agar, whereas agaropectin of agar provides viscosity when added to the
solution. Carrageenan, a sulphated polysaccharide, extracted from seaweed (carrageen) is used as an emulsifying agent and gelling agent. Carrageenan is useful as
an experimental tool to produce inflammation in the rat paw edema model of the
anti-inflammatory test. Inulin is a polysaccharide which is obtained from the bulbs
of dahlia, Inula helenium. Inulin is chemically 35–50, 1, 2-linked fructofuranose
units, terminated by one glucose unit. Dextrin, an incomplete hydrolytic product of
starch with dilute mineral acids, has pharmaceutical value as tablet excipients.
Whereas dextran is another polysaccharide that is generated by growing bacteria on
sucrose solution. Dextran is a chemical polymer of D-glucose linked by a (1,6)
glycosidic linkage (Kokate et al. 2005; Anbalahan 2017).
10.7 Lipids (Fixed Oil, Fats, Waxes and Phospholipids)
Lipids consist of a large number of natural products such as fixed oils (triglycerides), waxes (ester of long-chain fatty acid and long-chain alcohol), volatile oils,
steroids (having cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene ring), fat-soluble vitamins,
important ingredients of foods like vit. A, vit. D, vit. E, vit. K, phospholipids, and
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C. C. Kandar
aldobionic acid and pectic acid, is obtained from the inner portion of the skin of
citrus fruits, pectins are polyuronides and made of pectic substances such as pectinic acid, protopectin, and calcium pectate. Another viscous sticky material known
as mucilage obtained from maximum plants protect the plant by thickening the
membranes in plants. It helps to store water and food and also helps in the germination of seed. It is chemically a polar glycoprotein and an exo-polysaccharide.
Mucilage mainly acts as a demulcent. The important sources of mucilage are Cactus
(and other succulents) and L. usitatissimum (flax seeds). The extract of the
mucilaginous root of the marshmallow plant exhibits a demulcent effect and hence
used as a cough suppressant in respiratory tract infection. When mucilage comes in
direct contact with the mucous membrane surface, it acts as an emollient (Kokate
et al. 2005; Khowala et al. 2008).
The water-soluble portion approximately 85% of guar gum obtained from the
powder of the endosperm of Cyamopsis tetragonolobus is called guaran. On
hydrolysis, it gives 65% of galactose and 35% of mannose. Honey, a saturated
solution of sugar, deposited in the honeycomb by Apis mellifera (bees) is used as a
demulcent, antiseptic to burns and wounds, and also as a sweetening agent.
Tragacanth, obtained by incision from branches of Astragalus gummifer belonging
to the family Leguminosae, has pharmaceutical importance as a suspending agent,
the binding agent in tablets, emollient in cosmetics. Chitin is also a polysaccharide
derivative having acetyl and amino groups and are found in skeletal of invertebrates. Chitin is employed in wound healing products and is used in water treatment
plants. Agar, also known as vegetable gelatin, obtained from Gelidium amansii has
two polysaccharides such as agarose and agaropectin. Agarose provides gel strength
of the agar, whereas agaropectin of agar provides viscosity when added to the
solution. Carrageenan, a sulphated polysaccharide, extracted from seaweed (carrageen) is used as an emulsifying agent and gelling agent. Carrageenan is useful as
an experimental tool to produce inflammation in the rat paw edema model of the
anti-inflammatory test. Inulin is a polysaccharide which is obtained from the bulbs
of dahlia, Inula helenium. Inulin is chemically 35–50, 1, 2-linked fructofuranose
units, terminated by one glucose unit. Dextrin, an incomplete hydrolytic product of
starch with dilute mineral acids, has pharmaceutical value as tablet excipients.
Whereas dextran is another polysaccharide that is generated by growing bacteria on
sucrose solution. Dextran is a chemical polymer of D-glucose linked by a (1,6)
glycosidic linkage (Kokate et al. 2005; Anbalahan 2017).
10.7 Lipids (Fixed Oil, Fats, Waxes and Phospholipids)
Lipids consist of a large number of natural products such as fixed oils (triglycerides), waxes (ester of long-chain fatty acid and long-chain alcohol), volatile oils,
steroids (having cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene ring), fat-soluble vitamins,
important ingredients of foods like vit. A, vit. D, vit. E, vit. K, phospholipids, and
366
C. C. Kandar