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Lichenin
Synonym(s)
CAS No: 1402-10-4; Lichen thickness; Moss starch
DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.
Lichenin (from gr. lichen = lichen) is a colourless and tasteless, water-soluble, unbranched polysaccharide made up of 60-299 glucose residues, which occurs as a storage carbohydrate mainly in various lichens and mosses (in high concentrations e.g. in Icelandic moss). The sugar monomers of lichenin are linked to each other by 30% beta-1,3- and 70% beta-1,4-glycoside.
In oats and barley, lichenin can account for 6-8% of dry matter, in wheat and rye at most about 2%. Lichenin is strongly swelling. When boiled in water, it produces a colloidal solution which forms a jelly when cooled. Lichenin is indigestible for humans (humans lack the enzyme lichenase) and is used as a mucus drug and expectorant.
LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.
- Freysdottir J et al (2008) In vitro and in vivo immunomodulating effects of traditionally prepared extract and purified compounds from Cetraria islandica. Int Immunopharmacol 8:423-430.
- Niu Q et al (2916) Purification and characterization of a thermophilic 1,3-1,4-β-glucanase from Bacillus methylotrophicus S2 isolated from booklice. J Biosci Bioeng 121:503-508.
- Kim SY ET AL. (2014) Characterization of a lichenase isolated from soil metagenome. J Microbiol Biotechnol 24):1699-1706.