Page 96 - Pharmacognosy-II (06-PG 303)

Irish moss Carrageen

Carrageen is the dried bleached red algae Chondrus crispus L. family Gigartinaceae.

Constituents:

Complex polysaccharide (Carrageenan, Carrageenin) and other constituents.

Carrageenan: (Chondrus extract, Irish moss extract).

It is the hydrocolloid obtained by extraction with water.

It is a mixture of sulphated polysaccharides in the form of copolymers as:

к - carrageenan, ί - carrageenan, and λ- carrageenan.

Action and Uses:

1. Chondrus and carrageenan are used in pharmaceutical manufacturing and food
industry as emulsifying agents for cod-liver oil and other oils, suspending and
gelling agent stabilizing agent and viscosity builder in foods and non-foods, and as a
binder in toothpastes.

2. Included as a bulk laxative in several preparations for the treatment of constipation.

3. As a demulcent (included in topical preparations for symptomatic relief of anorectal
disorders and in pulmonary complaints).

N. B. Food Advisory Committee (FAC) in Britain advised that infants’ food should
be free of Carraggeenan.

N. B. Carrageenan is used to induce experimental edema in laboratorory animals.

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