Maltodextrin

Products Maltodextrin is commercially available as a pure powder. It is also found in numerous processed foods and in pharmaceuticals. Structure and properties Maltodextrin exists as a white, hygroscopic powder or granules and is readily soluble in water. It is a mixture of monomers, oligomers and polymers of glucose (dextrose) obtained by the partial hydrolysis … Maltodextrin

Maltose

Products Maltose is used as an excipient in pharmaceuticals as well as in various foods. It is a natural compound found in many plants. Structure and properties Maltose (C12H22O11, Mr = 342.3 g/mol) is a disaccharide consisting of two molecules of glucose covalently and α-1,4-glycosidically bonded together. It exists as a white, crystalline powder with … Maltose

Malt Extract

Products Malt extract is available in pharmacies and drugstores, for example, from Morga. Wander is a large supplier. Malt extract is the main ingredient in the Swiss national drink Ovaltine. Structure and properties Malt extract exists as a yellowish powder or viscous liquid. It is usually obtained by extraction with drinking water from barley malt … Malt Extract

Strength

Products Starch is available as a pure substance in grocery stores (e.g., Maizena, Epifin), pharmacies, and drugstores, among other places. Structure and properties Starch is a polysaccharide and a carbohydrate composed of D-glucose units that are α-glycosidically linked. The contains amylopectin (about 70%) and amylose (about 30%), which have different structures. Amylose consists of unbranched … Strength

Polysaccharides

Products Polysaccharides are present as excipients and active ingredients in numerous pharmaceuticals. They play a fundamental role in foods for nutrition. Polysaccharides are also known as glycans (glycans). Structure and properties Polysaccharides are polymeric carbohydrates composed of hundreds to thousands of sugar units (monosaccharides). As few as 11 monosaccharides are referred to as polysaccharides. They … Polysaccharides

Alginic Acid

Products Alginic acid and its salts are used as excipients in pharmaceuticals. Structure and properties Alginic acid is a copolymer consisting of a mixture of polyuronic acids from different proportions of β-(14)-D-mannuronic acid and α-(14)-L-guluronic acid. It is mainly obtained from brown algae. Alginic acid exists as a white to pale yellowish-brown, crystalline or amorphous … Alginic Acid

Xanthan Gum

Products Pure xanthan gum is available in pharmacies and drugstores, among other places. It was discovered in the 1950s and came on the market in the 1960s. Structure and properties Xanthan gum is a natural, high molecular weight, extracellular, purified and ground heteropolysaccharide obtained by the fermentation of carbohydrates (e.g., glucose, starch) with the rod-shaped … Xanthan Gum

Glucose Syrup

Products Glucose syrup is used as an excipient in pharmaceuticals. It is also used in many food products, such as gingerbread, marzipan, glacé and gummy sweets like gummy bears. Structure and properties Glucose syrup is an aqueous solution of a mixture of glucose, oligo- and polysaccharides obtained from starch by acid or enzymatic hydrolysis (with … Glucose Syrup

Disaccharides

Products Disaccharides are found in many foods and in pharmaceuticals. Pure disaccharides are available in pharmacies, for example. Structure and properties Disaccharides are carbohydrates consisting of two monosaccharides that are glycosidically linked. They are formed from two monosaccharides in a condensation reaction that releases water. Disaccharides occur as natural substances in plants, animals and fungi, … Disaccharides

Sucrose (Sugar)

Products Sucrose (sugar) is available as a pure substance in supermarkets. Countless foods contain added sucrose or related sugars. While this is obvious in some, for example, sweets such as gummy bears, chocolate cake, or jam, “hidden sugar” is present in numerous processed foods. For many consumers, it is not easy to understand why meat, … Sucrose (Sugar)