ICAR Research Data Repository for Knowledge Management

Polysaccharides also referred to as gums or hydrocolloids which consist mostly of water soluble or water swellable macromolecules, have broad applications in both food and non-food industries. They are used commercially to thicken, suspend or stabilize aqueous systems, to produce gels and to act as flocculent, binders, film formers, lubricants and friction reducers.Polysaccharides obtained from plants and seaweeds make up most significant quantity of the natural gums of commercial importance. A number of microbial polysaccharides such as dextran, xanthan, gellan etc., with varied properties have been discovered or commercialised.