Everything about Mucilage totally explained
Mucilage is a gooey
polar glycoprotein; an
exopolysaccharide; a
polymer produced by most plants and some microorganisms.
It occurs in various parts of nearly all classes of plant, usually in relatively small percentages, and is frequently associated with other substances, such as
tannins and
alkaloids.
Mucilage in plants is thought to aid in water storage and seed germination, and to act as a membrane thickener and food reserve. Among the richest sources are cacti (and other succulents), and
flax seeds.
Mucilage has a unique purpose in some
carnivorous plants. The plant
genera Drosera (Sundews),
Pinguicula, and others have leaves studded with mucilage-secreting glands, and use a "
flypaper trap" to capture insects.
Exopolysaccharides are the most stabilising factor for microaggregates and are widely distributed in
soils. Therefore exopolysaccharide-producing "soil algae" play a vital role in the
ecology of the world's soils. The substance covers the outside of, for example,
unicellular or
filamentous green algae and
cyanobacteria. Amongst the green algae especially, the group
Volvocales are known to produce exopolysaccharides in a certain part of their
life cycle.
Human uses
Mucilage is edible, but tastes rather bland. It is used in
medicine for its
demulcent properties. Traditionally
marshmallows were made from the extract of the mucilaginous root of the
marshmallow plant and due to the demulcent nature of the extract, worked as a cough suppressant. Some carnivorous plants with mucilage are used for the traditional production of a dairy product in Sweden, called
filmjölk.
During the fermentation of
natto soybean, extracellular enzymes produced by
Bacillus natto react with soybean sugars to produce mucilage. The amount and viscosity of the mucilage are important natto characteristics and contribute to natto’s unique taste and smell.
Plant sources
The following plants are known to contain far greater concentrations of mucilage than is typically found in most plants:
An adhesive
Mucilage is also a term for an
adhesive composed of a solution of a sticky vegetable product or vegetable
gum in water, used primarily to seal
paper (for example,
postage stamps and
envelope flaps).
Further Information
Get more info on 'Mucilage'.
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