POLYSACCHARIDES & POLYSACCHARIDE-CONTAINING COMPOUNDS

Polysaccharides

On hydrolysis they give an indefinite number of monosaccharides

1. Starch

2. Inulin

3. Cellulose

Name all the Homoglycans in polysaccharides

STARCH (AMYLUM)

Consist of polysaccharide granules obtained from the grains lf corn, rice, wheat, and potato

Zea mays (Gramineae)

scientific name of corn

Oryza sativa (Gramineae)

scientific name of rice

Triticum aestivum (Gramineae)

scientific name of wheat

Solanum tuberosum (Solanaceae)

scientific name of potato

Maranta arundinacea

scientific name of arrowroot

Manihot esculenta - cassava/tapioca starch

If plain starch is not available, the substitute is

STARCH (amylum)

Used as:

• Dusting powder

• Tablet diluent, binder

• Tablet disintegrant

• Antidote for Iodine toxicity (suspension)

• Starting material of glucose (corn syrup), dextrins, dextrose, high fructose

• sweeteners

STARCH (amylum)

• Temporary storage form of photosynthetic products (leaves)

• Permanent reserve food material (seeds, pith, medullary rays, cortex of stems and roots)

1. Amylose (B-amylose)

2. Amylopectin (a- amylose)

Chemical constituents

Water soluble

Solubility of Amylose

Water insoluble

Solubility of Amylopectin

Amylose

Linear and linked by α-1,4 glycosidic bond

amylopectin

Branched & linked by α-1,4 & α-1,4 glycosidic bond

250-300 glucose units

size of amylose

>1000 glucose units

size of amylopectin

25%

Ratio of amylose

75%

Ratio of amylopectin

α-amylose

β-amylose

Enzymes that breaks down starches

Pregelatinized starch

• Chemically or mechanically processed to rupture all or part of the granules in the presence of water

• Uses: Tablet excipient

Sodium starch glycolate

• Semisynthetic material of sodium salt of a carboxymethyl ether of starch

• Uses: Disintegrating agent

Hetastarch

• Semisynthetic material prepared of approximately 90% amylopectin and 7-8 of hydroxyethyl substituents for each 10 glucose units

• Uses: Plasma expander (6%) -> hypovolemic shock (low blood volume)

1. Pregelatonized starch

2. Sodium starch glycolate

3. Hetastarch

Preparations of starch

INULIN (HYDROUS INULIN)

• A D-fructofuranose polymer whose residues are linked in linear fashion by β-2,1 bonds.

• Obtained from the subterranean organs of Compositae family or from the chicory root (Chicorium intybus)

INULIN (HYDROUS INULIN)

Uses:

• Ingredient in culture media

• Evaluation of renal function

• Improves digestion

DEXTRAN (GLUCOSAN)

α – 1,6 linked polyglucan that is formed from sucrose by the action of transglucosylase enzyme system (Dextran sucrase) present in Leuconostoc mesenteroides

Iron dextran injection

• Sterile, colloidal solution of ferric hydroxide in complex with partially hydrolyzed dextran of low molecular weight in water for injection

• Hematinic (IV/IM)

CELLULOSE

• Structural polysaccharides in plants

• β-1,4

• Dietary fiber

• Makes up cell walls of plants

PURIFIED COTTON

Aka Absorbent cotton

PURIFIED COTTON

From hair seeds of Gossypium hirsutum (Malvaceae) that is freed from impurities, deprived of fatty matter, bleached & sterilized in its final container

Gossypium

ancient name of cotton plant

Goss

arabic: soft and silky substance

Hitsutum

latin: rough and hair

POWDERED CELLULOSE

• Purified, mechanically disintegrated cellulose prepared by processing α-cellulose obtained as a pulp from fibrous plant materials

• Tablet diluent, disintegrating agent

MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE

• Purified, partially depolymerized cellulose prepared by treating α-cellulose with mineral acids

• Tablet diluent

PURIFIED RAYON

• Fibrous form of bleached, regenerated cellulose and contains more than 1.25% TiO2 (titanium dioxide)

• Similar to purified cotton commonly employed as surgical aid.

Methylcellulose

• Obtained by the reaction of caustic soda (NaOH) + methyl chloride

• Methyl ether of cellulose

• 27.5%-31.% methoxy groups

• Bulk laxative (1-1.5 g with water 2 to 4

• times a day)

• Suspending agent

• Topical protectants

• Artificial tears

• Contact lens solutions

Ethylcellulose

• Ethyl ether of cellulose

• 44%-51% ethoxy group

• Tablet binder

• Film coating

• Hydroxyethylcellulose

• Hydroxyethyl ether of cellulose

• Thickening agent

• Ingredient in some formulations for

• artificial tears

Hydroxypropylcellulose

• Hydroxypropyl ether of cellulose

• More than 80.5% of hydroxypropyl groups

• Thickener

• Binder

• Film coating

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)

Aka Hypromellose

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)

• Suspending agent

• Thickening agent

• Artificial tears

• Lubricant for eyes

Pyroxylin

• Soluble guncotton (very flammable, used for manufacturing explosives)

• Obtained by the action of a mixture of HNO3 + H2SO4 on cotton

• Mixture of cellulose nitrates

• Used in the preparation of collodion (special effects for makeups) and flexible collodion, topical protectants

Cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP)

Enteric coating of tablets

Sodium carboxymethylcellulose

• mixed with microcrystalline cellulose in

• different proportions to give suspending

• agents with different viscosity

• Na salt of polycarboxymethyl ether of

• cellulose

• Suspending agent

• Thickener

• Tablet excipient

• Bulk laxative

CHITIN

• Nitrogenous polysaccharide consisting of amino and acetyl group found in the exoskeleton crustaceans, arthropods & cell wall of fungi

• Consists of the aminosugar N-acetylglucosamine, which is partially deacetylated.

CHITOSAN

Most the deacetylated form of chitin is

CHITOSAN

• Wound healing

• Ingredient in surgical dressings, suture thread

• Used for obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and Crohn disease