Algins medicine

Commercial applications for polysaccharides include their use as food additives, medicines and industrial products. Although plant polysaccharides (such as starch, agar and alginate) have been exploited commercially for many years, microbial exopolysaccharides have only become widely used over the past few decades. The diversity of polysaccharide structure is far greater in micro-organisms compared to plants and around 20 microbial polysaccharides with market potential have been described. However, microorganisms are still considered to be a rich and as yet underexploited source of exopolysaccharides. 

M., Minoda, M., Beppu, T., Miyamoto, T. and Nakamura, T. (2004) Apatiteforming ability of alginate fibers treated with calcium hydroxide solution. Journal of Materials Science-Materials in Medicine, 15, 1007-1012. 

Figure 22.11. Cellulose is a structural and rather chemically inert component of terrestrial plants. Alginic acid is synthesized by marine algae and has medicinal properties. Some polysaccharides contain nitrogen in the form of amino sugars. The primary example of this is chitin, which composes the exoskeletons of Crustacea. An amino sugar contains an amine in place of a hydroxyl group. In other polysaccharides, sugars combine with lipids and proteins. These form glycoUpids and glycoproteins, respectively.

Nondegradable polymers are also useful as matrices for ocular implants. This application requires the polymer to be hydrophilic, to minimize local tissue irritation. Need for ocular implants stems from the challenges posed to conventional ocular medicines (i.e., eye drops) such as rapid dilution, tear washout, poor patient compliance, and limited bioavailability. Ocular implants from hydrophilic polymer matrices that provide localized sustained release may overcome the above limitations. The first polymeric sustained release product to reach the market was Ocusert , a pilocarpin sustained release ocular implant developed by Alza. Ocusert has the drug reservoir as a thin disc of pilocarpine-alginate complex sandwiched between two transparent discs of microporous membrane fabricated from ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. The microporous membranes permit the tear fluid to penetrate into the drug reservoir compartment to dissolve pilocarpine from the complex. Pilocarpine molecules are then released at a constant rate of 20 or 40 pg/hr for a four- to seven-day management of glaucoma. 

The uses of MCAs in medicine, other than in NIDM, are rather limited. MCAs have been examined for ability to suppress gastrointestinal (GI) uptake of radiocations and cations of toxic elements. In the 1960s alginates, incorporated into bread, were shown to... 

There are also several water-soluble mixtures of polysaccharides, including those derived from seaweeds and marine animals, such as gum arabic, agar, algin, carrageenan, and chitin. These are hydrophilic. Their suspensions in water can be quite viscous and can readily form gels, and they can form viscous interfacial films around dispersed droplets and bubbles [821], They are used to stabilize suspensions, foams, and emulsions and are used in many different foods and medicines including, for example, ice cream [428,430], See also Ref. [822],... 

Alginic sodium diester (ASD) is made from sodium alginate extracted from seaweed. It is an important medicine in China, and is widely used to cure ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and hyperlipemia, based on its functions of reducing viscosity, resisting coagulation and improving circulation of blood. 

The medicinal properties of Laminaria depend upon the content and qualitative composition of proteins and carbohydrates. Certain other properties that aid to its therapeutic use are the ability to absorb large amounts of water and increase in volume at the same time and the higher contents of various macro- and micronutrients as compared to the terrestrial plants. Also, possession of colloidal polymer contents such as agar, alginic acid, and others as well as mannitol, specific to the marine vegetation makes Laminaria a very potential medicinal food. 

Dietary use of Laminaria dates back to the days of the First World War when it was used in raw form as a feed supplement for horses. It is used as a food, principally in Asian coimtries, where it is valued for its flavor, mineral content, and health giving benefits. The most important components with a medicinal point of view are Laminaria s polysaccharides. It contains alginates, laminarin, laminine, and fucoidan as well as a number of other polysaccharides and simple sugars. 

Shea butter (Butyrospermum parkii) carrier, lubricant Methyl nonafluorobutyl ether carrier, lubricant wire drawing Sodium tetraborate pentahydrate carrier, lubricants fluorocarbons Ethyl nonafluorobutyl ether carrier, lubricants hydrocarbons Ethyl nonafluorobutyl ether carrier, lubricants silicones Ethyl nonafluorobutyl ether carrier, medicaments Oleyl alcohol carrier, medicinals Glyceryl alginate Propylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate Propylene glycol dioctanoate... 

The world herilth organization estimalcs that 80% of the world population are today giving more importance to natural medicine in primary health care control. Natural substances like psyllium seeds, aloe vera, oats, guar gum, chitosan and alginate are found to be useful in treating heart disease, wound infection control, pain relief, asthma treatment and other health related problems. Major pharmaceutical companies are currently... 

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