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Macronutrients
Published in Chuong Pham-Huy, Bruno Pham Huy, Food and Lifestyle in Health and Disease, 2022
Chuong Pham-Huy, Bruno Pham Huy
Similar to plant gum, mucilage is a gelatinous substance that contains sugars and comprises a wide range of mixed viscous polysaccharides and glycoproteins (19, 35). The difference between them is their mode of formation. Mucilage is generally a normal product of metabolism, formed within the cell (35). Gums are considered to be pathological products, formed by giving injury to the plant or due to unfavorable conditions, such as drought and breakdown of cell walls (35). Gums readily dissolve in water, whereas mucilage form slimy masses. Both gum and mucilage are plant hydrocolloids yielding mixtures of sugars and uronic acids on hydrolysis (35). These hydrocolloids are used in small amounts as gelling, thickening, stabilizing and emulsifying agents in certain food products (17). Mucilage is secreted into the endosperm of plant seeds where they act to prevent excessive dehydration. Mucilage plays a role in the storage of water. Foods rich in mucilage are: aloe vera (leaves of Aloe barbadensis), pods of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum-graceum), hibiscus leaves (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), agar agar (algae), phoenix fruits (Phoenix dactylifera), cassia seeds (Cassia tora), Cocculus mucilage from leaves of Cocculus hirsute, mimosa seeds from seeds of Mimosa pudica, leaves of broom creeper (Cocculus hirsute), seeds of American basil (Ocimum americanum), and more (35).
Envisioning Utilization of Super Grains for Healthcare
Published in Megh R. Goyal, Preeti Birwal, Santosh K. Mishra, Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants in Food Design, 2022
Total dietary fiber (TDF) content of chia ranges from 23 to 41% wherein the insoluble and soluble fiber occupy 92% and 8%, respectively [54]. Consumption of chia seeds thus fulfils complete daily recommended fiber intake suggested by American Dietetic Association. TDF in chia is 2× and 4–5× compared to bran and, quinoa, soy, amaranth, and almonds, respectively [182]. The mucilage is mainly the soluble fiber, which is constituted mainly by polysaccharide (48%) of molecular weight 0.8–2 MDa with ash (8%), protein (4%), and fat (1%) [136, 186]. Insoluble dietary fiber is mainly constituted by lignin (Klason lignin), cellulose and hemicellulose. The PUFAs in chia are considered to be protected by Klason lignin since it builds a robust and resistant network with certain antioxidants. Lignin also exhibits hypocholesterolemic properties due to its bile acid absorbing ability [186].
Plantago ovata (Isabgol) and Rauvolfia serpentina (Indian Snakeroot)
Published in Azamal Husen, Herbs, Shrubs, and Trees of Potential Medicinal Benefits, 2022
Ankur Anavkar, Nimisha Patel, Ahmad Ali, Hina Alim
The vitamins and minerals also play an important role in improving immunity and overall health status (Table 13.2) (Sagar et al., 2020). Other than mucilage, 5% of fatty oil is present in P. ovata seeds, while acetylcholine-like action is shown by aucubin (Figure 13.3A) and tannins. Aucubin and other chemical constituents show activity against leukemia and lymphoma cell lines. Valine, alanine, glycine, glutamic acid, cystine, lysine, leucine, and tyrosine are amino acids found in the seeds of P. ovata. Linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid are some of the fatty acids found in psyllium husk. The seeds are rich in starch when the husk is removed. The amount of mucilage is greater in wild species than cultivated ones. The jelly-like mucilage is used for treating patients having constipation. The mucilage is not affected by the gastrointestinal environment. It also absorbs various toxins and prevents them from harming the body (Tewari et al., 2014; Franco et al., 2020).
Microencapsulation of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG with flaxseed mucilage using co-extrusion technique
Published in Journal of Microencapsulation, 2021
Kawai Lai, Yuhsuan How, Liewphing Pui
Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) is one of the oldest crops that have been cultivated since the beginning of civilisation (Goyal et al.2014). It contains both soluble and insoluble fibres (Bernacchia et al.2014). The mucilage of flaxseed is located in the epidermal cell layer of the seed coat, and its extraction is achieved by aqueous method followed by a drying process (Emaga et al.2011). Seed mucilage is a soluble fibre that was hydrated and produced by mucilage secreting cells (Kreitschitz and Gorb 2018). The research claimed that seed mucilage showed good prebiotic potential as probiotics could utilise it for growth (Mueller et al.2017, Lai, et al.2020b). Its prebiotic properties are associated with the presence of arabinoxylan and were capable of stimulating the growth of L. acidophilus La-05 and has the potential to act as wall material for the encapsulation of probiotic (Bustamante et al.2015).
Aloe vera gel and whole leaf extract: functional and versatile excipients for drug delivery?
Published in Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 2019
Alex Laux, Chrisna Gouws, Josias H. Hamman
Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. (Aloe barbadensis Miller) is a perennial xerophyte plant that has many medicinal applications. A. vera leaves contain water storage tissue, which is fundamentally made up of a viscous mucilage contained in the parenchyma cells. A. vera whole leaf extract refers to the product obtained from grinding the entire leaf (i.e. the rind, vascular bundles, and pulp) and removing the anthraquinones such as aloin by means of charcoal filtration. On the other hand, A. vera gel refers to the clear viscous mucilage contained within the parenchyma cells but is sometimes also interchangeably used to describe the complete intact fleshy inner part of the leaf or pulp. The mucilage gel primarily consists of polysaccharides dissolved in water (water content >98%) but also contains other compounds such as enzymes, minerals, and organic acids [1–3].
In vivo anti-ulcerogenic effect of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) on ethanol-induced acute gastric mucosal lesions
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2018
Deniz Ortaç, Mustafa Cemek, Turan Karaca, Mehmet E. Büyükokuroğlu, Zafer Ö. Özdemir, Ayşe Tuba Kocaman, Sadık Göneş
In traditional medicine, okra is believed to show diuretic, antispasmodic, demulcent and emollient poultice, cordial, laxative and anticancer effects (Ngoc et al. 2008; Van Dam et al. 2013). It is also known for its beneficial mucilage content. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro antioxidant, antidiabetic antihyperlipidemic, antimicrobial, antifatigue, hepatoprotective and neuroprotective effects of okra have been reported (Sabitha et al. 2011; Van Dam et al. 2013; Gemede et al. 2015; Xia et al. 2015). Quercetin (Que) as an antioxidant bioactive molecule of okra has proven to exhibit free radical scavenging activity toward hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals and superoxides anions (Lengsfeld et al. 2004; Abourehab et al. 2015).