Page 109 - Medicinal Plants_PharmD general

6) Suspending agent for barium meals.
7) It is the starting product from which dextrose and dextrin are made.
8) Starch possesses nutrient, demulcent and protective properties.
9) Starch has many commercial uses such as paper sizing, cloth sizing,

laundry starching and others.

2. Dextrin

It is formed from starch moistened with dilute acids and heated to
110 ℃. Dextrin is chiefly prepared from corn starch in the United States
and potato starch in Europe. Dextrins are mixtures of polymers of D-
glucose units linked by α-(1→4) or α-(1→6) glycosidic bonds. Dextrin is
used as an adhesive for sizing cloth or paper, in cloth printing, food
industry, a thickening and binding agent in pharmaceuticals.

3. Sucrose

It occurs in high concentration in the cell sap of some plants e.g.
sugar cane. On hydrolysis it yields D-glucose and D-fructose. It is non
reducing to Fehling’s solution.
Test: it gives on warming with hydrochloric acid and resorcinol a deep red
colour.

4. Mucilage

Mucilge is a thick, gluey substance produced by nearly all plants and
some microorganisms. Mucilage is edible. It is used in medicine as it
relieves irritation of mucous membranes by forming a protective film. It is
known to act as a soluble, or viscous, dietary fiber that thickens the fecal
mass (as bulk laxative), an example being the consumption of fiber
supplements containing Psyllium seed husks. Mucilage is heterogenous in

-109-