Agar: used for the formulation of thickening products, ie capable of determining a particular consistency; it is found in volume laxative preparations and in adjuvants in low calorie diets.
Psyllium: is a drug made from a plant called Plantago psyllium, belonging to the Plantaginaceae family. This is a very common plant, grown in the Middle East to produce a drug made from seeds.
Psyllium seeds
Psyllium seeds are extremely small, with a maximum volume of 1-2 mm, a brown-blackish color and a shiny surface. It is precisely this surface that is covered with mucilage, which are extracted by placing the seeds inside large tanks containing hot water. The mucilages thus detach and enter into solution, forming a superficial colloidal layer. Detaching themselves from the used part of the seed. , are then collected and dried, then become psyllium powder or plantage powder, as it is marketed in the raw state. The uses of this powder are similar to all mucilages, in particular in the pharmaceutical - technical use as excipients. An important characteristic of mucilage is precisely that of adsorbing water, but also of retaining it, so it is evident that a mucilaginous product for use topical has the property of releasing water slowly, moisturizing the skin, with a protective effect on the skin itself and mucous membranes.
As for the mucous membrane of the mouth, oral hygiene products are rich in mucilage, because they boast excellent soothing properties, in particular those of mallow. The mucilages also have protective virtues; in fact they form a sort of barrier between the environment and the inflamed mucosa, favoring the recovery of normal functionality and attenuating the inflammatory state.
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