Page 26 - phytochemistry I - PharmD Clinical

 Chemical composition:
 Agar is a heterogenous polysaccharide consisting of two principal

constituents of which are agarose and agaropectin.
Agarose

 is a neutral galactose polymer (free from sulfate) which is principally
responsible for the gel strength of agar.

Agaropectin
 It appears to be a sulphonated polysaccharide in which galactose and
uronic acid units are partly esterified with sulfuric acid.

Uses:
1 - Preparation of culture media.
2- As an emulsifying agent and a suspending agent.
3- Treatment of chronic constipation.
4- As a tablet excipient and disintegrant.
5- Agarose is used for electrophoretic separation of globulin and other proteins for

techniques involving gel filtration and gel chromatography.

Pectin

Occurrence:
 Pectin is a purified carbohydrate product obtained from the dilute acid
extract of the inner portion of the rind of citrus fruits or from apple
pomace.

Uses:
1- As a suspending agent and as an ingredient in many antidiarrheal formulations.
2- As a colloidal solution, it has the property of conjugating toxins and enhancing the

physiologic functions of the digestive tract. In the upper intestinal tract, pectin
possesses a surface area composed of ultramicroscopic particles (Micelles) that
have the property of colloidal absorption of toxins.

Heparin

Occurrence:
 The main sources of commercial heparin are lung and liver tissues, it is
also produced by selective processing of pig intestines mucosa.
۲٥