Polysaccharides

<p>Cellulose derivative, food thickener and emulsifier, bulk forming laxative</p>

<p>The sugar component consists of alternating residues of β-(1,4) linked N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid. A peptide chain of three to five amino acids is attached to the N-acetylmuramic acid. The peptide chain can be cross-linked to the peptide chain of another strand forming the 3D mesh-like layer.</p>

<p>The disaccharide repeating unit of chondroitin sulphate consists of N-acetyl galactosamine sulphate linked β1,4 to glucuronic acid. Each monosaccharide may be left unsulphated, sulphated once, or sulphated twice. The most common pattern is that the hydroxyl groups of the 4 and 6 positions of the N-acetyl-galactosamine are sulphated, with some chains having the position 2 of the glucuronic acid sulphated.</p>

<p>N-Acetyl-de-O-sulphated heparin is a glycosaminoglycan, which occurs in many mammalian tissues and has important anticoagulant and thrombolytic properties. The chemical structure is composed mainly of two disaccharide repeating units A and B. A is L-iduronic acid 2-suplhate linked α-(1,4) to 2-deoxy-2-sulfamido-D-galactose 6-sulphate, while B is D-glucuronic acid β-(1,4) linked to 2-deoxy-2-sulfamido-D-glucose 6-sulphate.</p>

<p>The sodium salt of hyaluronic acid is a glycosaminoglycan found in many organs, where it functions as a joint lubricant and shock absorber. It is obtained principally from synovial fluid, vitreous humor of the eye, umbilical tissue and cocks comb. The chemical structure of hyaluronic is a disaccharide repeat of β-(1,3) glucuronic acid and β-(1,4) N-acetyl glucosamine.</p>

<p>Ulvans are structural polysaccharides present in the cell walls of green algae such as Ulva armoricana, Ulva rotondata, Ulva rigida, Ulva lacterca and Ulva pertusa.  They are highly sulphated and contain rhamnose 3-sulphate, xylose, xylose 2-sulphate, glucuronic acid and iduronic acid residues.  Ulvan has several potentially valuable functionalities such as gel formation for agricultural and food applications and possible anticoagulant, antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic and antitumor activities for pharmaceutical applications.<br>The image was kindly provided by Prof Mike Guiry from Cork who runs ‘The Seaweed Site’.</p>

<p>Gycosaminoglycan in many organs; joint lubricant and shock absorber</p>

<p>Chitosan from fungal cell walls.  It is made by treating cell walls of fungi (agaricus bisporus) with sodium hydroxide.Viscosity typically 20-100 mPa.sMushroom OriginMolecular Weight: 13000Da</p>

<p>Gycosaminoglycan in many organs; joint lubricant and shock absorber</p>

<p>Chondroitin sulphate is the most abundant glycosaminoglycan in mammalian tissues and occurs both in skeletal and soft connective tissue. The disaccharide repeat unit consists of N-acetyl galactosamine sulphate linked β1,4 to glucuronic acid.</p>

<p>Levan is a (2,6)-linked fructan produced by Erwinia herbicola. The polysaccharide contains branches every 10-12 fructose residues linked (1,2) and is reported to have a molecular weight in excess of 1000 KDa.  Potential industrial applications of levan have been proposed as an emulsifier, formulation aid, stabilizer and thickener, surface-finishing agent, encapsulating agent, and carrier for flavor and fragrances. In addition, levan is promising in medicine as a plasma substitute, drug activity prolongator and antihyperlipidemic agent.</p>

<p>Chitin is a polysaccharide which is found widely in nature, where it functions in a manner similar to collagen in chordates. It forms the tough fibrous exoskeletons of insects, crustaceans and other arthropods, and, in addition to its presence in some fungi, it occurs in at least one alga. The structure of chitin is similar to that of cellulose but with glucose replaced with N-acetyl-D-glucosaminyl units linked β-D-(1,4) in a linear chain. It is normally produced from the shells of lobster, crab or shrimp.</p>

<p>The sodium salt of hyaluronic acid is a glycosaminoglycan found in many organs, where it functions as a joint lubricant and shock absorber. It is obtained principally from synovial fluid, vitreous humor of the eye, umbilical tissue and cocks comb. The chemical structure of hyaluronic is a disaccharide repeat of β-(1,3) glucuronic acid and β-(1,4) N-acetyl glucosamine.</p>

<p>Psyllium seed gum comes from plants of the Plantago genus and is cultivated mainly in the Mediterranian and in India. Psyllium has been used for many years medical applications and more recently there has been a resurgency of interest because it has been seen as a soluble dietary fibre. The proposed structure is of a backbone of D-xylopyranosyl units linked (1,4) and (1,3) with the 4-linked units bearing side chains. The side chains consist of α-L-arabinofuranosyl units linked (1,3) and (1,2) and β-D-xylopyranosyl units linked (1,3) and (1,2) and the α-D-GalAρ-(1,2)-α-L-Rhaρ aldobiuronic acid units linked (1,2) to the main chain.</p>

<p>Dextran sulphate is a dextran derivative whose ulcer (colitis) -causing properties were first reported in hamsters and extrapolated a few years later to mice and rats. The exact mechanisms through which dextran sulphate induces intestinal inflammation are unclear but may be the result of direct damage of the monolayer of epithelial cells in the colon, leading to the crossing of intestinal contents (for e.g. commensal bacteria and their products) into underlying tissue and therefore induction of inflammation.  The dextran sulphate sodium induced ulceration model in laboratory animals has some advantages, when compared to other animal models of colitis, due to its simplicity and similarities to human inflammatory bowel disease.</p>

<p>Gycosaminoglycan in many organs; joint lubricant and shock absorber</p>

<p>Carboxymethyl chitosan has good solubility in water and unique chemical, physical and biological properties such as high viscosity, large hydrodynamic volume, low toxicity, biocompatibility and good ability to form films, fibres and hydrogels. For this reason, it has been extensively used in many biomedical fields such as a moisture-retention agent, bactericide, wound dressing agent, in artificial bone and skin, as blood anticoagulant and as a component in different drug delivery matrices. The reactive ligands COOH and NH2 groups are available for metal chelation and dye binding.</p>

<p>N-Acetyl heparin is a glycosaminoglycan, which occurs in many mammalian tissues and has important anticoagulant and thrombolytic properties. The chemical structure is composed mainly of two disaccharide repeating units A and B. A is L-iduronic acid 2-suplhate linked α-(1,4) to 2-deoxy-2-sulfamido-D-galactose 6-sulphate, while B is D-glucuronic acid β-(1,4) linked to 2-deoxy-2-sulfamido-D-glucose 6-sulphate.</p>

<p>Gycosaminoglycan in many organs; joint lubricant and shock absorber</p>

<p>Gycosaminoglycan in many organs; joint lubricant and shock absorber</p>

<p>Polyguluronic acid is produced from alginates by partial hydrolysis and chromatography of brown algae such as Laminaria digitata, Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus spp.<br>The image was kindly provided by Prof Mike Guiry from Cork who runs ‘The Seaweed Site’.MW is ca 6000 - 8000Da.poly-M levels are ca 3%</p>

<p>In addition to the β-glucans from cereals, another group of β-glucans are found in the cell walls of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), bacteria and fungi, with significantly differing physicochemical properties dependent on source. Typically these β-glucans form a linear backbone with 1,3 β-glycosidic bonds but vary with respect to molecular mass, solubility, viscosity, branching structure, and gelation properties, causing diverse physiological effects in animals.  They are structural components in the cell walls of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and to provide stability, they have a few b-1,6 branch points that lock into other cell wall components (1 in 5 glucose residues). So in any extraction you get a few 1,6 linked glucose residues ~5%.<br>The yeast and fungal β-glucans have been investigated for their ability to modulate the immune system. They are also used in various nutraceutical and cosmetic products, as texturing agents, and as fibre supplements. Their detailed molecular structures are key to the physical properties that they exhibit, such as water solubility, viscosity, gelation properties and physiological functions.<br>The image was kindly provided by Dr. Chris Lawson.</p>

<p>Laminaran is a polysaccharide that co-occurs with fucoidan and alginate in brown seaweeds such as Laminaria digitata, Laminaria cloustoni, Eisenia bicyclis and Thallus laminariae. It is a β-1,3-linked glucan which it is claimed stimulates the immune system in mammals and fish.<br>The image was kindly provided by Prof Mike Guiry from Cork who runs ‘The Seaweed Site’.</p>

<p>Gycosaminoglycan in many organs; joint lubricant and shock absorber</p>

<p>The sodium salt of hyaluronic acid is a glycosaminoglycan found in many organs, where it functions as a joint lubricant and shock absorber. It is obtained principally from synovial fluid, vitreous humor of the eye, umbilical tissue and cocks comb. The chemical structure of hyaluronic is a disaccharide repeat of β-(1,3) glucuronic acid and β-(1,4) N-acetyl glucosamine.</p>

<p>Gycosaminoglycan in many organs; joint lubricant and shock absorber.  Made by a bacterial, Streptococcus fermentation.</p>

<p>A fucan sulphate found in brown marine algae (Phaeophyta-typically Fucus vesiculotus, Ascophyllum nodosum (illustrated), Alaria and Cladosiphon) and has been shown to have anticoagulant activity. The main constituents are α-1,4 and α-1,2 linked L-fucose sulphates although galactose also occurs and there are many variations of the basic structure found in different species of Phaeophyta.Molecular weight cut off at 300kDa.The image was kindly provided by Prof Mike Guiry from Cork who runs ‘The Seaweed Site’.</p>

<p>Gycosaminoglycan in many organs; joint lubricant and shock absorber</p>

<p>Dextran sulphate is a dextran derivative whose ulcer (colitis) -causing properties were first reported in hamsters and extrapolated a few years later to mice and rats. The exact mechanisms through which dextran sulphate induces intestinal inflammation are unclear but may be the result of direct damage of the monolayer of epithelial cells in the colon, leading to the crossing of intestinal contents (for e.g. commensal bacteria and their products) into underlying tissue and therefore induction of inflammation.  The dextran sulphate sodium induced ulceration model in laboratory animals has some advantages, when compared to other animal models of colitis, due to its simplicity and similarities to human inflammatory bowel disease.</p>

<p>Please enquire for more information about Fucoidan - Ascophyllum nodosum including the price, delivery time and more detailed product information at the technical inquiry form on this page</p>

<p>Arabinoxylans consist of α-L-arabinofuranose residues attached as branch-points to β-(1,4)-linked D-xylopyranose main chains. These may be 2- or 3-substituted or 2- and 3- di-substituted. The arabinose residues may also be linked to other groups attached such as glucuronic acid residues, ferulic acid cross links and acetyl groups. Arabinoxylans generally consist of between 1500 - 5000 residues.</p>

<p>Guar gum is obtained from the seed of the legume Cyamopsis tetragonolobus, an annual plant that grows mainly in semi-arid regions of India. The structure of the polysaccharide consists of a main chain of (1,4)-linked β-D-mannopyranosyl units with single α-D-galactopyranosyl units linked (1,6) on average to every second main chain unit. Guar has a high viscosity in aqueous solution, shows marked pseudoplastic behaviour and forms synergistic gels in the presence of other gums such as carrageenan and xanthan gum.</p>

<p>Sodium salt of a polysaccharide obtained from the brown seaweeds (e.g. Laminaria hyperborea, Fucus vesiculosus, Ascophyllum nodosum). The chemical structure consists of blocks of (1,4) linked-β-D-polymannuronic acid (poly M), (1,4) linked-α-L-polyguluronic acid (poly G) and alternating blocks of the two uronic acids (poly MG). Alginates form strong gels with divalent metal cations and the egg box model has been used to describe this form of gelation. The main use for alginate is in textile printing as a thickener in the printing of cottons with reactive dyes. In the food industry it is used as a thickener and gelling agent.  Recently, it has been shown that ternary mixtures of Konjac glucomannan, Xanthan gum and Sodium alginate can form a non-covalently linked complex which exhibits enhanced rheological properties of value in, for example, functional foods.<br>The image was kindly provided by Prof Mike Guiry from Cork who runs ‘The Seaweed Site’.</p>

<p>Cellulose with a particle size of 20μm is an industrial biomass material that has various applications. It is commonly used in the production of paper, textiles, and biofuels. Cellulose is a complex carbohydrate that provides structural support to plant cell walls. It can also be used as an excipient in pharmaceutical formulations, such as in the production of tablets.</p>

<p>Cellulose is a linear polysaccharide of β 1-4 linked glucose residues. The polysaccharide chains are bundled as microfibrils in cell walls and provide the essential structural components within growing plants. Each microfibril exhibits a high degree of three-dimensional internal bonding resulting in a crystalline structure that is insoluble in water, resistant to reagents and very strong.</p>

<p>Starch is an energy storing polysaccharide produced by higher plants and some algae. Pure starch is a white, tasteless and odorless powder that is insoluble in cold water or alcohol. It consists of two types of polysaccharide: the linear and helical amylose (α-1,4-linked glucose) and the branched amylopectin (α-1,4 and α-1,6-linked glucose). Depending on the plant, starch generally contains 20 to 25% amylose and 75 to 80% amylopectin by weight.</p>

<p>In water, hydroxypropyl cellulose forms liquid crystals with many mesophases depending on concentration. These mesophases include isotropic, anisotropic, nematic and cholesteric, the latter resulting in many colors such as violet, green and red. Pharmaceutical applications include treatments for medical conditions such as dry eye syndrome (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), recurrent corneal erosions, decreased corneal sensitivity, exposure and neuroparalytic keratitis. It is also used as a binder in tablets. Hydroxypropylcellulose is also used as a thickener, a binder and emulsion stabiliser in foods with E number E463.  HPC is used as a support matrix for DNA separations by capillary and microchip electrophoresis.</p>

<p>Pectins are regarded as linear chains of α-1,4-linked D-galacturonic acid, a homogalacturonan (pectic acid). In the products of commerce, the degree of methylation has a vital influence on the properties of pectin, especially the solubility and gel forming characteristics.</p>

<p>Sugar beet arabinan consists of a 1,5 α-linked arabinose backbone to which 1,3 α-linked (and possibly some 1,2 α-linked) L-arabinofuranosyl residues are attached. Approximately 60% of the main-chain arabinofuranosyl residues are substituted by single 1,3-linked arabinofuranosyl groups. The reducing terminal arabinosyl residue is attached through rhamnose to fragments of the rhamnogalacturonan backbone of the native pectin molecule.</p>

<p>Dextran sulphate is a dextran derivative whose ulcer (colitis) -causing properties were first reported in hamsters and extrapolated a few years later to mice and rats. The exact mechanisms through which dextran sulphate induces intestinal inflammation are unclear but may be the result of direct damage of the monolayer of epithelial cells in the colon, leading to the crossing of intestinal contents (for e.g. commensal bacteria and their products) into underlying tissue and therefore induction of inflammation.  The dextran sulphate sodium induced ulceration model in laboratory animals has some advantages, when compared to other animal models of colitis, due to its simplicity and similarities to human inflammatory bowel disease.</p>

<p>Chondroitin sulfate A sodium salt is a glycosaminoglycan that is derived from chondroitin. It is a complex carbohydrate with a high molecular weight and an average MW of 10,000 to 50,000 Da. The synthesis of the monosaccharide units in chondroitin sulfate A sodium salt occurs by Methylation, Click modification, Polysaccharide, or Fluorination. Chondroitin sulfate A sodium salt can be custom synthesized according to customer specifications and can be ordered as a CAS No. 39455-18-0 with high purity.</p>

<p>Amylopectin is composed of between 2,000 to 200,000 glucose residues linked α (1→4) with α (1→6) branching. The molecule is highly branched, every 24 to 30 glucose units, resulting in a soluble molecule with many terminal residues. Starch is made of about 70% amylopectin by weight, though it varies depending on the source (higher in medium-grain rice to 100% in glutinous rice, waxy potato starch, waxy corn, and lower in long-grain rice, amylomaize, and russet potatoes).</p>

<p>Fucogalactan (GFS) is a polysaccharide isolated and purified from the brown seaweed Undaria pinnatifida. The polysaccharide is a sulphated galactose containing fucan. Fucogalactan is currently under investigation for possible therapeutic indications including anti-inflammatory properties, immuno- modulating activities, inhibition of tumor growth, stem cell replentishment, antiviral activity, dementia and ulcer healing.Fucoidan ≥ 75 %<br>The image was kindly provided by Prof Mike Guiry from Cork who runs ‘The Seaweed Site’.</p>

<p>An alginate-like polysaccharide produced by the fermentation of Azotobacter vinelandii or Pseudomonas mendocina. The chemical structure consists of blocks of (1,4) linked-β-D-polymannuronic acid (poly M), (1,4) linked-α-L-polyguluronic acid (poly G) and alternating blocks of the two uronic acids (poly MG). Unlike the alginate from seaweed, this polysaccharide is partially acetylated.</p>

<p>Starch is an energy storing polysaccharide produced by higher plants and some algae. Pure starch is a white, tasteless and odorless powder that is insoluble in cold water or alcohol. It consists of two types of polysaccharide: the linear and helical amylose (α-1,4-linked glucose) and the branched amylopectin (α-1,4 and α-1,6-linked glucose). Depending on the plant, starch generally contains 20 to 25% amylose and 75 to 80% amylopectin by weight.</p>

<p>Ethyl cellulose is similar in structure to methyl cellulose with ethyl replacing the methyl groups. It is approved for use in regulated markets such as food and pharmaceuticals. In pharmaceuticals it can mask the taste of bitter actives, enhance the strength and appearance of tablets and capsules, and enable controlled release formulations. In food products it functions as a binder, film former and flavour fixative.</p>

<p>Glycogen is a highly branched polysaccharide of glucose that serves as a form of energy storage in animals and fungi. It is the main storage form of glucose in the body.  In humans, glycogen is made and stored primarily in liver and muscle cells and functions as the second most important energy storage molecule to fat which is held in adipose tissue. Glycogen is analogous to starch and has a structure similar to amylopectin, but is more extensively branched and compact than starch. It occurs as granules in the cytosol/cytoplasm in many cell types, and plays an important role in the glucose cycle.</p>

<p>In water, hydroxypropyl cellulose forms liquid crystals with many mesophases depending on concentration. These mesophases include isotropic, anisotropic, nematic and cholesteric, the latter resulting in many colors such as violet, green and red. Pharmaceutical applications include treatments for medical conditions such as dry eye syndrome (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), recurrent corneal erosions, decreased corneal sensitivity, exposure and neuroparalytic keratitis. It is also used as a binder in tablets. Hydroxypropylcellulose is also used as a thickener, a binder and emulsion stabiliser in foods with E number E463.  HPC is used as a support matrix for DNA separations by capillary and microchip electrophoresis.</p>

<p>Anterograde and retrograde tracer in neurons; biologically inert</p>

<p>Applications 2-Amino-2-deoxygalacturonic acid was a component of the lipopolysaccharide from P. aeruginosa NCTC 8505 and probably occurs in the region of polysaccharide responsible for O-antigenic specificity.<br>References Wilkinson, S.G., et al.: Biochem. J., 149, 783 (1975),<br></p>