Canadian Medical Guide > Chemicals and Drugs > Carbohydrates and Hypoglycemic Agents > Carbohydrates > Polysaccharides Terms and Definitions

Polysaccharides

Medical Definition:
Guide Notes:	13 or more units; GEN; prefer specifics

Polysaccharides Categories.

	Alginates - Salts of alginic acid that are extracted from marine kelp and used to make dental impressions and as absorbent material for surgical dressings.
	Carrageenan - A water-soluble extractive mixture of sulfated polysaccharides from RED ALGAE. Chief sources are the Irish moss CHONDRUS CRISPUS (Carrageen), and Gigartina stellata. It is used as a stabilizer, for suspending COCOA in chocolate manufacture, and to clarify BEVERAGES.
	Chitin
	Ficoll - A sucrose polymer of high molecular weight.
	Fructans - Polysaccharides composed of D-fructose units.
	Galactans - Polysaccharides composed of repeating galactose units. They can consist of branched or unbranched chains in any linkages.
	Glucans - Polysaccharides composed of repeating glucose units. They can consist of branched or unbranched chains in any linkages.
	Glycosaminoglycans - Heteropolysaccharides which contain an N-acetylated hexosamine in a characteristic repeating disaccharide unit. The repeating structure of each disaccharide involves alternate 1,4- and 1,3-linkages consisting of either N-acetylglucosamine or N-acetylgalactosamine.
	Gum Arabic - Powdered exudate from various Acacia species, especially A. senegal (Leguminosae). It forms mucilage or syrup in water. Gum arabic is used as a suspending agent, excipient, and emulsifier in foods and pharmaceuticals.
	Karaya Gum - Polysaccharide gum from Sterculia urens (STERCULIA). It is used as a suspending or stabilizing agent in foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals; a bulk-forming laxative; a surgical lubricant and adhesive; and in the treatment of skin ulcers.
	Lentinan - Polysaccharide isolated from the edible mushroom Lentinus edodes. The exact composition is unknown.
	Mannans - Polysaccharides consisting of mannose units.
	Oligosaccharides - Carbohydrates consisting of between two (DISACCHARIDES) and ten MONOSACCHARIDES connected by either an alpha- or beta-glycosidic link. They are found throughout nature in both the free and bound form.
	Pectins - High molecular weight polysaccharides present in the cell walls of all plants. Pectins cement cell walls together. They are used as emulsifiers and stabilizers in the food industry. They have been tried for a variety of therpeutic uses including as antidiarreals, where they are now generally considered ineffective, and in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
	Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester - A sulfated pentosyl polysaccharide with heparin-like properties.
	Polysaccharides, Bacterial - Polysaccharides found in bacteria and especially bacterial capsules. (Dorland, 28th ed)
	Proteoglycans - Glycoproteins which have a very high polysaccharide content.
	Pyrogens - Substances capable of increasing body temperature; they may be of microbial origin, often polysaccharides and may contaminate distilled water.
	Sepharose
	Tragacanth - Powdered exudate from Astragalus gummifer and related plants. It forms gelatinous mass in water. Tragacanth is used as suspending agent, excipient or emulsifier in foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. It has also been used as a bulk-forming laxative.
	Xylans - Polysaccharides consisting of xylose units.
	Zymosan

Polysaccharides Medical Definitions and Terms

CANADIAN MEDICAL GUIDE

Thank you for visiting Canadian Medical Guide .com

Canadian Medical Guide

Canadian Medical Guide > Chemicals and Drugs > Carbohydrates and Hypoglycemic Agents > Carbohydrates > Polysaccharides Terms and Definitions

Polysaccharides

Polysaccharides Medical Definitions and Terms

Canadian Medical Guide Catagories

Canadian Vitamin, Mineral and Food Supplement Guide

Contact Us!

150,000 World Tours and Attractions