medicinal Plants Agar-agar

Gelidium amansii Lamour, and other red algae (Rhodophyta)
The family of Agar-Agar: Gelidiatsievye - Gelidiaceae
Used parts: the thallus (thallus) algae.
Laboratory Name: Agar (formerly: agar-agar).
Botanical description Agar. Red alga Gelidium amansii found and mined on the Pacific coast of Asia from the Greater Sunda Islands to Japan, the Pacific coast of Mexico and California and the coast of the Indian Ocean. This is an open-work is extremely delicate branched plant, reaching a length of about 20 - 24 cm
In Russia, the greatest value as a producer has agaragara Ahnfeltia (Ahnfelria plicara [Huds.] Fries) from the family Phyllophoraceae.Collection and storage of agar-agar. The algae is extracted from the sea floor 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 on the surface of the algae. For the subsequent bleaching of the collected material is spread on the mat, where it is often washed with fresh water and dried, all the while turning.Dried seaweed Agar-agar is usually a time stored in warehouses before they are processed properly in the agar. To do it again moistened and cooked in large vats of water. After adding the acid boil again, with the gelling agents are dissolved, and strain off of the remaining sediment. Agar is isolated by freezing, after thawing, it is a leathery-leaf-mass. He was then re-dried and the product is ready for use.The active substances. 70% carbohydrates, proteins, crude fiber and water.Curative effect and the use of agar-agar. Swellable substance apothecary materials do not decompose either in the acidic environment of the stomach, through which pass very quickly, nor in the alkaline environment of the intestine, as a result of severe swelling of the intestinal contents increased, which causes its peristalsis. Thus, agar-agar acts as a mild laxative. But as a drug, as a major component of vaginal suppositories or pellets, it is not currently used. On the contrary, biologists commonly use Agar-agar as a base of nutrient media for growing cells and microorganisms.Side effects of Agar-agar is not known. The use of agar as a laxative is safe.Tags online, traditional medicine: herbsPosted by: Encyclopedia of Folk Medicine