Page 110 - Medicinal Plants_PharmD general

composition and is typically polysaccharide complexes formed from the
sugars: arabinose, galactose, glucose, mannose, xylose and uronic acid
units.

Test for mucilage:

I. Solution of Ruthenium red: It stains the mucilage of senna and
buchu leaves, linseed and mustard.

II. Alkaline solution of corallin: It stains the mucilage found in
squill.

5. Inulin

It occurs in plants of Compositae and Campanulaceae either soluble
in the cell sap or in amorphous or sphaero-crystalline masses.Inulin is a
heterogeneous collection of fructose polymers. It consists of fructosyl
moiety and glucosyl moiety, β(2,1) linked. Inulin is soluble in hot water
and gives no colour with iodine. It gives fructose on hydrolysis with acids
or inulinase. Inulin is not digested by enzymes in the human alimentary
system, this contributes to its functional properties: reduced calorie value,
dietary fiber, and prebiotic effects.

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