MUCILAGE
OBJECTIVE :
1. Why mucilage is removed..?
2. Where it is reduced..?
3. What are all the advantages or
disadvantages of removing the mucilage from plant extract..?
INTRODUCTION : Secretions produced by the plant tissue from the linkage
with some bulky complex molecules and forms viscous fluid which is refereed as
mucilage.
In general mucilage is
produced by the parenchytous tissues.
Mucilage is found in different plants in different parts. In root, stem,
flower, leaf and also in fruiting bodies we can notice the presence of mucilage.
Composition of mucilage is different in different from one
another, but in general mucilage is made up of,
Ø Soluble or insoluble fibers
Ø Polar glycoprotein
Ø Exopolysaccharides
In other words, mucilage are polysaccharide complexes formed
from and uronic acid units. Mucilage forms slimy masses in water, are typically
heterogeneous in composition.
As mucilage is a complex formed by several chemicals and
chemical composition is not properly known, particular chemical structure can
not be predicted.
SOME OF THE MUCILAGE YIELDING PLANTS AND IT’S UNIQUE FEATURES
v Lady;s finger
Botanical name: Abelmoschus esculentus
Belongs to a family called MALVACEAE.
Mucilage mainly contains soluble fibers. Here mucilage is present to protect
the seeds hence mucilage is restricted to fruiting body.
v Aloe vera
Botanical name: Aloe vera
Belongs to a family called LILIACEAE.
Aloe vera exclusively contain pectic acid and glucomonnans. In addition to
these antiseptic agents like lupeol, natural salicylic acid, urea nitrogen,
cinnamic acid, phenol and sulphur. Anti inflammatory β-sitosterol is also present in it.
vHibiscus
Botanical name: Hibiscus rosa-sininsis
Belongs to a family called MALVACEAE.
Mucilage restricted to leaves. Leaves, only after came into contact with water
mucilage spreads out.
vBasale soppu
Botanical name: Basella alba
Belongs to a family called
BASELLACEAE. Twig along with leaves contains mucilage. Starch is present in
huge quantity.
Starch, proteins, fibers are
essential for our body in small quantity. For better digestion and excretion
process mucilage plays a very important role. Thus partial removal of mucilage
is better than complete removal.
METHODOLOGY
From hibiscus and aloe vera, the
mucilage extracted by CENTRIFUGATION process. Extracted mucilage is exclusively
used in cosmetic industries.
Acid hydrolysis, steam
treatment, boiling, treating with alkali are some methods to extract the
mucilage from plants.
By viscosity method, by varying
PH level also mucilage can be separated.
By the carbohydrate test,
protein test etc. by using several chemical reagents, on basis of rate reaction
the perfect composition of the mucilage of desirable plant can be determined.
CONCLUSION
According to AYURVEDA, people with
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) should avoid mucilage vegetables. This is
because, the victim fails to digest the over starch in those vegetables.
Souring agents are used in
kitchen is to remove the mucilage and to make it palatable.
Except in few cases, removal of
mucilage from vegetable is not necessary. For better health partially mucilage
can be removed. As the mucilage contains micronutrients we can make better use
of it.
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