| Abstract (english) | Flowers and leaves of Malva silvestris, flowers of Malva arborea (Althaea rosea, Alcea
rosea), flowers, leaves and fruits of Malva alcea (Malvaceae), and leaves of Plantago
lanceolata (Plantaginaceae) were compared by determination of the swelling index
and viscosity of their mucilages.
The species of the family Malvaceae are know to contain large quantities of polysac·
charides. The acidic polysaccharides were isolated from the mucilages of leaves and
flowers, and were found to be composed mainly of glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid,
rhamnose and galactose.
The acidic polysaccharides were also isolated from the mucilage of leaves of Plantago
lanceolata, which are composed of galacturonic acid, galactose, arabinose, glucuronic
acid, glucose and rhamnose.
The swelling index was determined according to the Ph.Jug.lI. and IV, DAB 9, and
Ph.Helv.VI, using 1.0 g, 0.5 g and 0.2 g ofpowdered material. In case of flowers ofAlcea
rosea, only 0.2 g of homogenized material was taken (with 1.0 g or 0.5 g values
larger than 25 were obtained); and the swelling index shown in Table 2 was calculated
from 0.2 g values.
The swelling index of Ispaghula seed (Plantaginis ovatae semen) and Ispaghula husk
(Plantaginis ovatae seminis tagumentum or testa) were also determined according to
the Ph.Jug.II. and IV, DAB 9, Ph.Eur. 2 and Ph.Helv. VI (Table 4).
Viscosity ofthe aqueous extracts was determined with a Oswald viscosimeter (Table 5).
Our investigastions showed mucilage from flowers of Alcea rosea to be superior to
mucilages from flowers and leaves from Malva silvestris and Malva alcea. |
