Mosses, polysaccharides

This seaweed became known as Irish moss. The extraction and purification of the polysaccharide from Irish moss was patented in 1871 (29). This polysaccharide eventually became known as carrageenan it was not produced and marketed until 1937. 

Polysaccharides from which 2,4,6-trimethyl-D-glucose can be prepared by methylation and hydrolysis include a polyglucose isolated from the cell wall of brewer s yeast,166 laminarin168 and the hemicellulose fraction of Iceland moss.188... 

There are reports that plant virus inhibitors occur naturally in plants, and they could be proteins, glycoprote -ins, polysaccharides, phenols etc(7 5). Extracts of mosses, especially Sphagnum(76), algae(77) and Cassia of the family Leguminosae(7S) are effective in inhibiting tobacco mosaic virus(TMV), but much more work is needed to develop virici-des that may be sprayed safely and economically on crop plants in the field. 

Moss RB, Hsu YP, Van Eede PH, Van Leeuwen AM, Lewiston NJ, De Lange G, Altered antibody isotype in cystic fibrtosis impaired natural antibody response to polysaccharide antigens, Pediatr. Res., 22 708-713, 1987. 

The Alkali-soluble Polysaccharides of the Lichen Cladonia alpestris (Reindeer Moss), G. O. Aspinall, E. L. Hirst, and (Mrs.) Margaret Warburton, J. Chem. Soc., 651... 

Percival also applied himself to the study of the polysaccharides from lichens, as, for example, the complex product of alkaline extraction of Iceland moss (Cetraria islandica). As a result of this work, he concluded that the polysaccharide consists of S-D-glucose residues united by various linkages 1,2, 1,3, 1,4, and 1,6, and includes also terminal D-galacto- and D-gluco-pyranose end groups. It was not possible to decide whether these linkages all occur in one polysaccharide. ... 

ICELAND MOSS, Lichen islandicus consists of the dried thallus of Cetraria islandica (L.) Acharius sensu latiore, family Parmeliaceae. Characteristic constituents include bitter-tasting lichen acids usnic acid gives the bitter-taste and has antibacterial effects. It also contains polysaccharides, which form a mucilage Lichenin, a linear cellulose-like polymer of D-glucose, is soluble in hot water, and on cooling it forms a gel. The other polysaccharide is isolichenin, a linear starch-like polymer of D-glucose, soluble in cold water. 

Synonyms 3,e-/tnhydro-d alactan Carrageen Canageenan Canag-eenan gum Canageenin Canagheanin Carraghennan Chondrus Gum carrageenan Irish gum Irish moss Classilicalion Sulfated polysaccharide... 

The substances identified support the assertion that the green layer contained biogenic material, because the vast majority of the evaporation/pyrolysis products obtained were related to polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids, substances that are the main cellular components of organisms such as cyanobacteria and mosses. 

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