Polysaccharides psyllium

Although most seeds contain starch as the principal food reserve, many contain other polysaccharides and some have industrial utility. The first seed gums used commercially were quince, psyUium, flax, and locust bean gum. However, only locust bean gum is stiU used, particularly in food appHcations quince and psyllium gums are only used in specialized appHcations. 

Psyllium Seed Gum. PsyUium seed gum [8036-16-9] is derived from plants of the genus Plantago several species of which are used as commercial sources. However, most current production is from Plantago ovata grown in India. The gum is located in the coat which is removed by cracking. The gum is then extracted with boiling water and separated from the insoluble residue by filtration. It consists of mixtures of both neutral and acidic polysaccharides, the composition of which is species dependent (66). 

Carcinogenesis inhibition. Polysaccharide fraction of the dried seed hulls, administered to rats by gastric intubation, was active vs tumor induction with N-ethyl N-nitro-N nitrosoguanidine h Rice bran, administered orally to male rats at a concentration of 4% of the diet, was active. A 1 1 combination of wheat bran and psyllium, at a total level of 8% dietary fiber, offers the highest protection against colon tumor development . 

Plant seed polysaccharides — Guar — Locust bean — Psyllium — Tamarmid — Quince Other derivatives — modified starch — low-methyl pectin — propylene glycol alginate... 

Psyllium preparation (polysaccharide) Plantago psyllium (Plantaginaceae) HypoGlc (NIDDM human) [anti-constipation, anti-haemorrhoid, water-absorbant]... 

The cotyledon co-product is processed, dried, and sold as a dietary fiber in competition with other sources such as a-cellulose, psyllium seed, guar gum, locust bean gum, pectin, and wheat, corn, and oat brans. Manufacturer s specifications for a domestic product include 75% (mfb) dietary fiber (65% noncellulosic polysaccharides and 10% cellulosic), 12% moisture, 0.2% fat, and 4.5% (as is) ash. 

Another potential source of carbohydrate for colon bacteria consists of polysaccharides which are added to foods as emulsifiers (e.g. guar gum, alginate) or which are used as stool softeners (e.g. psyllium). Plant polysaccharides such as guar gum are also being evaluated for use in the treatment of diabetes because they retard glucose absorption (, ). The amount of polysaccharide from these sources will vary from person to person but could be appreciable in some cases. 

Psyllium is a hydrophilic material in nature and is well known for its water uptake properties, gelling capabilities, soluble and insoluble filxe contents and surface struct. It is a natural polysaccharide and contans high percentage of hemicelluloses. It has simUar molecular constituents to other naturally sourced polysaccharides e.g. alginate, chitosan, guar gum, and has more or less similar physiological functions. 

Yu et al (15) have studied reaction of solid state enzymes on functional properties of psyllium seed husk and observed friat modified psyllium showed improved gelling properties, unproved dispersing effect and more desirable sensory properties and decreased water absorbing capacity. Modified psyllium still contains soluble and insoluble fiber with fewer undesirable properties. Kennedy et al (14) and Fischer et al (13) have developed an efficient, reproducible process for alkaline extraction and fractionation of polysaccharide from husk which can be useful for further biological studies. 

Fischer et al, The gel-forming polysaccharide of psyllium husk (Plantago ovata Forsk) , Carbohydrate Research, August 2004 339 2009-2017. 

B. Singhand N. Chauhan, Modification of psyllium polysaccharides for use in oral insulin delivery. Food Hydrocoll, 23 (3), 928-935,2009. 

Thakur VK, Singha AS, Mehta IK (2010) Renewable resource-based green polymer composites analysis and characteaization. Int J Polym Anal Charact 15(3) 137-146 Thakur VK, Thakur MK (2014a) Processing and characterization of natural cellulose fibers/thermoset polymta- composites. Carbohydr Polym 109 102-117 Thakur VK, Thakur MK (2014b) Recent trends in hydrogels based on psyllium polysaccharide a review. J Cleaner Prod 82 1—15... 

Srivastava P, Braganca J, Ramanan S, Kowshik M (2013) Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using haloarchaeal isolate Halococcus salifodinae BK3. Extremophiles 17 821-831 Suzuki Y, Kelly SD, Kemner KM, Banfield JF (2002) Radionuclide contamination nanometer-size products of uranium bioreduction. Nature 419 134 Thakur VK, Thakur MK (2014a) Recent trends in hydrogels based on psyllium polysaccharide a review. J Clean Prod 82 1-15... 

Mucilages—Presently, these substances are usually classified under gums, since they have many of the same properties. Formerly, mucilages were considered to be the plant polysaccharides which readily formed sticky, slimy (muci-lagenous) solutions in water. Two of the most familiar examples of these substances are those that may be extracted from flax seeds and psyllium seeds. Various products made from these seeds nave long been used as laxatives. It is noteworthy that ladies used to set their hair in curls or waves with a solution obtained by steeping flax seeds in hot water. 

Psyllium polysaccharides have been shown to promote wound healing and to reduce scar formation through various mechanisms in in vivo and in vitro models. ... 

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