Agar

Agar

Used parts: sloevische (thallium) algae.

Pharmacy name: agar (formerly: agar-agar).

Botanical description. The red alga Gelidium amansii occurs and is mined on the Pacific coast of Asia from the Great Zondskih islands to Japan, the Pacific coast of Mexico and California and the coast of the Indian Ocean. This openwork, highly ramified tender plant, reaching a length of about 20-24 cm

Collecting and harvesting. Algae is extracted from the seabed from May to September, divers using nets or special rakes and thoroughly washed with fresh water from the mud, and small organisms, usually in abundance at the surface of marine algae. For further bleaching material collected and lay on the litter, where it is often washed with fresh water and podsushivayut, turning all the time. Dried seaweed * In Russia, the greatest value as a producer of agar-agar is anfeltsiya (Ahnfeltia plicata [Huds.] Fries) family Phyllophoraceae. - Prim. perev.obychno time stored in warehouses before they transform itself into agar. To do this, they moisturize and re-boiled in large vats of water. After adding acid provarivayut again, with zheleobrazuyuschie substances dissolve and run off from the remaining sediment. Agar emit freezing, after thawing, it is a leatherback-listovidnuyu mass. He was then re-dried and the product is ready for consumption.

Active substance: 70% carbohydrates, protein substances, gross fiber and water.

Curative effect and application. Swell Aptekarsky raw materials do not decompose either in the acidic environment of the stomach, through which pass very quickly, or in alkaline medium intestine and as a result of severe swelling increasing the content of the intestines that causes peristalsis. Thus agar-agar acts as a laxative. But as medicine, as a basic component of vaginal balls or candles, it is not currently used. By contrast, biologists are widely used as a base of nutrient agar medium for growing cells and microorganisms.

Adverse effects are unknown. Application of agar-agar as a light laxative safely.