Therapeutic Polysaccharides Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Therapeutic Polysaccharides - Essay Example On a fundamental level, polyssarcharides are defined as polymeric chains composed of mono- or di-saccharides bound together by glycosidic bonds, a special type of covalent bond. Carbohydrates possess a hemiacetal group that contains a reactive anomeric carbon that readily reacts in certain low pH cellular environments to form a stable glycosidic bond. While the ring structure of the carbohydrate subunits confers a rigid form, the glycosidic bonds allow for chain flexibility, conferring similar mechanical properties found in other semi-elastic polymers (Andre and Gushlbauer 1974, p.803-805). The unique properties yielded by this chemical structure allow polysaccharides to fulfill a variety of biological roles. The plant commonly referred to as the Butternut Squash, also commonly called the Winter Squash, Pumpkin Squash, and Field Pumpkin, is scientifically known as Cucurbita moschata, a member of the same family as gourds and cucumbers. Like its close relatives, the plant grows on a v ine with soft, hairy stems and is found in both North and South America in growing zones USDA 8 through 11 (Saylor and Network Vista, Inc. 2008, p.4175). The plant is widely grown for foodstuffs and is a common home gardener favorite. The leaves of the plant are broad, with nearly orbicular structure, and few lobes are present in the vine. Annually, Cucurbita moschata produces yellow colored flowers with wide spreading and crinkled petal structures, of a monoecious variety possessing both male and female structures within a single plant.