| Synonyms | Agar-agar, Japanese isinglass. |
| BS | Agar is the dried gelatinous substance, obtained from: Gelidium amansii Lamouroux,
Gelidium cartilagineum Gall,
Gelidium pristoides Turn Kiitz,
Gelidium conferoides Greville,
Pterocladia capillaceae.
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| Family | Gelidiaceae, Rhodophyceae (red Algae). |
| CC | Carbohydrate- Polysaccharides.
Heterogeneous polysaccharides consisting of two components
(a) Agarose (70%):
neutral galactose polymer. It is free from sulphate. The gel strength of agar is due to this component.
Agarose also called as Agarobiose is a disaccharide consisting alternate residues of
1, 4-α-linked.
1, 3-β-D galactose.
3, 6-anhydro-L-galactose.
(b) Agaropectin:
An acidic sulphonated component where in 1, 3 linked D-galactose and the galactouronic acid (an uronic acid) are partly esterified with sulphuric acid
Agaropectin comprises 90% and more of sulphur. In addition, the sulphate group may also get linked to calcium, magnesium, potassium or sodium.
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| Uses | a bulk laxative (an agent to induce active movement of the bowels) and in chronic constipation (unmanageable constipation). Generally, it is given in combination with other Anthraquinones vegetable drugs.
In the preparation of vaginal capsules and suppositories (a cone shaped capsule like structure with the medicine in it, to be introduced into rectum, urethra or vagina).
o prepare nutrient media in bacteriological culture.
In industrial applications like emulsion, sizing, silk textiles, adhesives and thickening ice cream.
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