IRISH MOSS

Description

The carrageenans are a group of linear sulfated polysaccharides found in red algae1 of the phylum Rhodophyta. At least 10 carrageenans are known; the best known and most important ones are ι (iota)-, κ-2, and λ-3carrageenan. The ι-form, shown here, is found primarily in the alga Eucheuma denticulatum.
All carrageenan polymers consist of repeating units of galactopyranose disaccharides, each of which contains zero, one, two, or three sulfate groups. The counterions of the anionic carrageenans are typically sodium, potassium, and/or calcium. ι- and κ-carrageenan occur in double-helix conformations.
In 1946, E. Gordon Young and F. A. H. Rice at Dalhousie University (Halifax, NS) were among the first to describe carrageenans in the chemical literature (then by the name carrageenin), although they cited references to them as far back as 1844. About the same time, C. K. Tseng at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography (La Jolla, CA) also wrote extensively about carrageenin and other algae-derived compounds.
Historically, carrageenans have been used as thickening, gelling, emulsifying, stabilizing, and clarifying agents in food products ranging from ice cream to beer. They are also additives to common household products such as toothpaste, shampoo, air fresheners, and shoe polish. The three major carrageenans have widely different gelling properties: Calcium ι-carrageenan forms soft gels; potassium κ-carrageenan forms rigid gels; and the λ-structure does not gel at all.
In the past decade, scientists have studied carrageenans for what could turn out to be even more important uses: antiviral medications. In 2020, a few months into the COVID-10 pandemic, Leonel Pereira at the University of Coimbra (Portugal) and Alan T. Critchley at Cape Breton University (Sydney, NS) posed the question, “seaweeds4 to the rescue?” and wondered why the pharmaceutical community hadn’t investigated building on the known antiviral properties of carrageenans and other algae molecules to combat SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.
Among several studies they cited, Pereira and Critchley noted that an ι-carrageenan-containing nasal spray provided relief of upper respiratory tract infections in patients suspected of having H1N1 influenza. They also observed that the initially low levels of COVID-19 infection in Hokkaido Island (Japan) might be attributed to the residents’ widespread consumption of seaweed.
Scientists soon took up the challenge. The following year, Hafiz M. N. Iqbal at the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (Mexico), Jingliang Xu at Zhengzhou University (China), and collaborators further reviewed literature that suggested that carrageenans and other algae molecules could prevent and treat SARS-CoV-2 infection. In another review, Manu Kumar at Dongguk University (Seoul) and colleagues noted that sulfated polysaccharides such as carrageenans attach tightly to the SARS-S protein, resulting in reduced viral infection.
In a 2021 breakthrough, Andrea Vanesa Dugour and co-workers at the University of Buenos Aires and the César Milstein Institute of Science and Technology (Buenos Aires) discovered that ι-carrageenan prevents the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro in the human respiratory epithelium cell line Calu-3. They used the same formula as in the already-approved nasal spray mentioned above.
A ScienceDirect information page provides much more information on ι-carrageenan. The Prospector Knowledge Center published an excellent compendium of the three main carrageenan structures.
1. This year’s theme for Chemists Celebrate Earth Week is “The Curious Chemistry of Amazing Algae”. MOTW is proud to participate in the celebration. 2. CAS Reg. No. 11114-20-8. 3. CAS Reg. No. 9064-57-7. 4. “Seaweed” is a common term for macroalgae.

Chemical properties

sulfate content >35%, forms no gels powder

The Uses of IRISH MOSS

Carrageenans are used to suppress immune response in vivo and in vitro via mechanisms believed to involve selective cytopathic effect on macrophages. As ι-, κ-,and λ-carrageenans have varying degress of sulfation, they may be studied comparatively for differences in protective, antiviral, and immunosuppression activities.

The Uses of IRISH MOSS

Carrageenan, iota type is used as a stabilizer, for suspending cocoa in chocolate manufacture, and to clarify beverages.?Carrageenans are used commercially as thickeners and stabilizing agents.

The Uses of IRISH MOSS

Carrageenans are used to suppress immune response in vivo and in vitro via mechanisms believed to involve selective cytopathic effect on macrophages. As ι-, κ-, and λ-carrageenans have varying degrees of sulfation, they may be studied comparatively for differences in protective, antiviral, and immunosuppression activities. ι-Carrageenan may be used to help define the role of carrageenan sulfation levels in physicochemical, biochemical, biological and pharmacological responses.

What are the applications of Application

ι-Carrageenan is forms compliant and flexible gels.

Definition

A beer clarifier.

General Description

Carrageenans are mucopolysaccharides from the cell walls of the red algae. They are anionic linear polymers composed of 1,3α-1,4β-galactans having one (κ-), two (ι-) or three (λ-) sulfates per disaccharide unit. In ionic solutions, κ- and ι-carrageenans self-associate into helical structures that form rigid or flexible gels, respectively. λ-carrageenans do not form helices and are non-gelling. Carrageenans are used commercially as thickeners and stabilizing agents.